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

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a piece of thrombus (blood clot) breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to block a smaller vessel, it is called an embolism. Thrombosis refers to the formation of a blood clot within a vessel, but it may or may not cause a blockage. An infarction is tissue death that occurs when blood supply to an area is cut off, often due to a blocked vessel. Atherosclerosis is the gradual buildup of plaque in arteries over time. Hematocrit refers to the percentage of red blood cells in the blood.

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