embolism
n. countablen. a blockage in a blood vessel that stops blood from flowing. It usually happens when a blood clot or a piece of fat moves from one part of the body to another.
n. an obstruction in a blood vessel caused by a foreign substance, such as a blood clot, air bubble, or fat globule. Often used in medical contexts to describe a life-threatening condition.
The doctor checked for an embolism in the patient's leg.
A deep vein thrombosis can lead to a pulmonary embolism if the clot travels to the lungs.
The patient was rushed to the intensive care unit after a sudden drop in oxygen levels suggested a possible cerebral embolism that had compromised blood flow to the brain.
The term was coined in 1848 by Rudolf Virchow. From Old French embolisme (“intercalation of days in a calendar to correct errors”), from Late Latin embolismus, from Ancient Greek ἐμβολισμός (embolismós, “intercalary”), from ἐμβάλλω (embállō, “to insert, throw in”).