Hyaline arteriolosclerosis (Benign nephrosclerosis) Histology and Explanation

In benign hypertension, hyaline (pink, amorphous, homogeneous material) accumulates in the wall of small arteries and arterioles,producing the thickening of their walls and the narrowing of the lumens. Consequent ischemia will produce tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, glomerular alterations (smaller glomeruli with different degrees of hyalinization - from mild to sclerosis of glomeruli) and periglomerular fibrosis. (Hematoxylin-eosine, ob. x10)

Here is an example of renal vascular disease known as benign nephrosclerosis. The smaller arteries in the kidney have become thickened and narrowed. Hyaline arteriolosclerosis with hypertension or diabetes mellitus is usually present. This leads to patchy ischemic atrophy with focal loss of parenchyma that gives the surface of the kidney the characteristic granular appearance as seen here.