Commonly Known as a Heart Attack
Myocardial infarction (MI) (mi-0-KAR-dee-al) (in-FARK-shun) occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked.
A buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances forms plaque in the coronary arteries. When plaque breaks away, it can form a clot that interrupts blood flow to the heart.
Interrupting blood flow to the heart can cause damage or necrosis (death) of heart muscle. This condition is referred to as a heart attack or myocardial infarction.
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For more Cardiovascular System medical terms, refer to Exploring Medical Language, Chapter 10, or Basic Medical Language, Lesson 7.
Myrna LaFleur Brooks is the coauthor of the textbooks Exploring Medical Language and Basic Medical Language.
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