Embolism

In medicine, an embolism occurs when an object (the embolus, plural emboli) migrates from one part of the body (through circulation) and cause(s) a blockage (occlusion) of a blood vessel in another part of the body.

Related Topics:
Medicine - Body - Circulation - Blood vessel

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This can be contrasted with a "thrombus" which is the formation of a clot within a blood vessel, rather than being carried from elsewhere.

Related Topics:
Thrombus - Clot

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Blood clots form the most common embolic material by far: other possible embolic materials include fat globules, air bubbles (an air embolism), septic emboli (containing pus and bacteria), or amniotic fluid.

Related Topics:
Blood - Fat - Air - Air embolism - Pus - Bacteria - Amniotic fluid

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Emboli often have more serious consequences when they occur in the so-called "end-circulation": areas of the body that have no redundant blood supply, such as the brain, heart, and lungs.

Related Topics:
Brain - Heart - Lungs

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Assuming a normal circulation, a thrombus or other embolus formed in a systemic vein will always impact in the lungs, after passing through the right side of the heart. This forms a pulmonary embolism that can be a complication of deep-vein thrombosis.

Related Topics:
Vein - Pulmonary embolism - Deep-vein thrombosis

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In the rare cases where there is a congenital hole in the heart (or some other abnormality of the circulation), it is possible that an embolus from a systemic vein can cross into the arterial system and land anywhere in the body.

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Emboli starting in the heart (from a thrombus in the left atrium secondary to atrial fibrillation or septic emboli from endocarditis) can cause emboli in any part of the body.

Related Topics:
Left atrium - Atrial fibrillation - Endocarditis

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An embolus landing in the brain from either the heart or a carotid artery will likely cause a stroke.

Related Topics:
Brain - Heart - Carotid artery - Stroke

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