What it means
When an artery is blocked, the tissue it feeds gets no oxygen. If the blockage lasts, first ischemiais-KEE-mee-uhToo little blood flow to a part of the body, so the tissue does not get enough oxygen.isch- hold back-emia blood conditionFull entry and then cell death set in, and the dead area is called an infarct. A myocardial infarctionmy-oh-KAR-dee-ul in-FARK-shunDeath of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.my/o musclecardi/o heart-al having to do withinfarct area of dead tissueFull entry is a heart attack; a cerebral infarction is one kind of stroke; tissue in the lungs, kidneys or bowel can also infarct.
For the nurse
Time matters: the sooner blood flow is restored, the less tissue dies. Report new chest pain, new weakness or numbness, or sudden severe pain in the belly or a limb right away.
At a glance
| Spanish | infarto |
|---|---|
| Also written | infarctions, infarct, infarcts |
Related terms
myocardial infarction
Death of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.
ischemia
Too little blood flow to a part of the body, so the tissue does not get enough oxygen.
necrosis
The death of cells or tissue in a part of the body.