A patient, newly diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), wants to know the etiology of his illness. Which statement by the nurse reflects knowledge of the pathophysiology of this disease?

Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta has caused the vessel to become narrowed. Less oxygenated blood is being delivered to your feet.

Your aneurysm was formed because of the development of a blood clot in the artery in your abdomen.

The strep bacteria has weakened the valves in your artery.

Chronic hypertension weakened the walls of your artery causing an outpouching of the arterial vessel wall.