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 interrupting blood flow to the heart.
Interrupting blood flow to the heart can cause damage or necrosis (death) of part of the 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.
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