Word parts
What it means
A clot (thrombus) that forms where blood should flow freely. In a vein it slows blood return, as in deep vein thrombosisDEEP VAYN throm-BOH-sisA blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.thromb/o clot-osis conditionFull entry ; in an artery it can block blood flow and cause 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 or a stroke. Slow blood flow, damage to the vessel wall and blood that clots too easily are the three main causes.
For the nurse
Know which clients are at risk (after surgery, on bed rest, with cancer or a history of clots) and use prevention as ordered: early walking, compression devices and anticoagulantan-tee-koh-AG-yoo-luntA drug that slows the blood's ability to form clots.anti- againstcoagul/o clotting-ant an agent that doesFull entry .
At a glance
| Spanish | trombosis |
|---|---|
| Also written | thromboses, thrombus, thrombi |
Related terms
deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.
anticoagulant
A drug that slows the blood's ability to form clots.
embolism
The blocking of a blood vessel by a mass carried there in the blood (an embolus), such as a clot, fat or an air bubble.
thromb/o
A word part that means blood clot.