When a piece of thrombus breaks loose and lodges in a smaller vessel, blocking the flow of blood, the condition is called
A) thrombosis.
B) an infarction.
C) an embolism.
D) atherosclerosis.
E) arteriosclerosis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A thrombus that breaks loose and travels to a smaller vessel, where it obstructs blood flow, is called an embolism. Thrombosis refers to the formation of a blood clot in a vessel, while an infarction occurs when blood flow is completely blocked, leading to tissue death. Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are both conditions involving the hardening and narrowing of arteries.

When a Piece of Thrombus Breaks Loose and Lodges in a Smaller