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Atherosclerotic lesions have a patchy distribution in the arterial wall. Branching regions and stenoses are favoured sites for the development of lesions (Rindfleisch 1867; Mitchell and Schwartz 1965). Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the localization. According to Fry’s shear stress hypothesis (1969, 1972) the early lesions are to be expected in regions with high blood velocities, while according to Caro’s boundary layer diffusion hypothesis (1969, 1971) the early lesions should develop in regions with low velocities. Most animal experiments support Fry’s hypothesis. However, histological differences between dietary induced vascular lesions in animals and human atherosclerosis have long been recognized. Moreover, until recently the detailed localization of the early atherosclerotic lesions in branching regions of arteries has not been studied in humans.