embolus

/'embələs/

Thân thiện

A doctor points to an embolus in a diagram of a blood vessel.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An abnormal particle circulating in the blood: An "embolus" is a mass of material, such as a blood clot, air bubble, fat globule, or piece of tissue, that travels through the bloodstream. It is capable of blocking a blood vessel (an artery or vein) at a site distant from its origin, causing an embolism.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient suffered a stroke caused by an embolus that traveled to his brain.
  • An air embolus can be a serious complication of certain medical procedures.
  • Doctors used imaging to locate the embolus blocking the pulmonary artery.

Advanced Usage

• "Septic embolus": An embolus that contains infectious material, such as bacteria, often originating from an infection in the heart (e.g., endocarditis).

  • The fever and new lung lesions suggested a septic embolus from the heart valve infection.

• "Paradoxical embolus": An embolus that passes from the venous side of the circulation to the arterial side, typically through an abnormal opening in the heart, like a patent foramen ovale.

  • The cerebral infarct was likely due to a paradoxical embolus from a deep vein thrombosis.

Variants and Related Words

• Embolism (n): The condition or event of a blood vessel being blocked by an embolus.
  • Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition.
• Embolic (adj): Relating to or caused by an embolus.
  • The patient showed signs of an embolic stroke.
• Thromboembolus (n): An embolus that specifically originates from a thrombus (blood clot).
  • A thromboembolus from the leg was the cause of the blockage.

Synonyms

• Clot (when referring to a thrombus that has traveled).
• Obstruction (in the specific context of a circulating particle causing blockage).

Notes on Meaning

• The term "embolus" refers specifically to the traveling particle itself. The resulting blockage is called an "embolism." An embolus is often a piece of a larger clot (thrombus) that has broken free, but it can also be other substances introduced into the bloodstream.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an abnormal particle (e.g. an air bubble or part of a clot) circulating in the blood