Definition

Noun: A blood clot is a semisolid mass formed by the coagulation of blood components, primarily red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, within a blood vessel or the heart.

Usage

A blood clot is a medical term for a specific physiological (or pathological) occurrence. It is used to describe the mass itself. * The doctor was concerned about a blood clot in the patient's leg. * The formation of a blood clot is essential to stop bleeding from a wound. * A blood clot that travels to the lungs can be very dangerous.

Advanced Usage

• Thrombus: This is the specific medical term for a blood clot that forms and remains attached to the wall of a blood vessel.
  • The scan revealed a thrombus in the coronary artery.
• Embolus: This term refers to a blood clot (or other material) that travels through the bloodstream from its site of origin.
  • The stroke was caused by an embolus that blocked an artery in the brain.

Variants and Related Words

• Clot (verb/noun): The more general term. As a verb, it means to coagulate or form a clot. As a noun, it can refer to a blood clot or a clot of any substance (e.g., cream).
  • Blood will clot to seal a wound. (verb)
  • There was a clot of paint at the bottom of the can. (noun)
• Coagulation (noun): The process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot.
• Thrombosis (noun): The formation or presence of a thrombus (a blood clot) inside a blood vessel.

Synonyms

• Thrombus (when stationary)
• Embolus (when mobile)
• Coagulum (a technical term for a coagulated mass)

Related Phrases

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): A medical condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg.
  • Long flights can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
• Clot-busting drugs: A colloquial term for thrombolytic medications used to dissolve dangerous blood clots.
  • The patient was given clot-busting drugs to treat the heart attack.

Noun

1. a semisolid mass of coagulated red and white blood cells