Endothelial microparticles （EMP） are lipid membrane vesicles released by activated or apoptotic endothelial cells. EMP play an important role in endothelial cell injury, procoagulant, proinflammatory and signal transdution and so on. The level of circulating EMP is increased in a series of diseases, such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, diabetes, sepsis and vicious hypertension. Atherosclerosis is the pathological basis for the development of many vascular diseases and accounts for the major cause of mortality and morbidity in acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. This paper provides an overview of the role of EMP in the development of atherosclerosis.