What does infarction mean?
Infarction is a medical term for the death of tissue when its blood supply is interrupted or inadequate. It most often results from a blocked artery, as in myocardial infarction, where part of the heart muscle dies because oxygen-rich blood cannot reach it. The word can also describe infarction in the brain, kidneys, limbs, or other organs. Medical writers use infarction to name both the underlying process and the resulting condition, while infarct usually refers more specifically to the mass or area of dead tissue. In everyday conversation, people may hear “heart infarction” as a synonym for heart attack, although myocardial infarction is the precise medical term. The word matters because the location and extent of infarction often indicate the severity of the underlying circulatory problem and can strongly affect recovery and long-term function.
nounInfarction is the death of tissue in an organ or other body part when its blood supply is cut off or inadequate, usually because an artery is blocked. The term is especially associated with myocardial infarction, in which damaged heart muscle dies from interrupted blood flow.
- The process or condition in which tissue dies because its blood supply has been interrupted or inadequate, typically because of arterial obstruction.
"A clot blocking a coronary artery can cause a myocardial infarction, with lasting damage to the heart muscle."
"The scan showed an infarction in the right side of the brain."
"Early treatment can reduce the extent of myocardial infarction and preserve heart function."
Used when referring to multiple separate instances or areas of infarction.
"The scans revealed small infarctions in both cerebral hemispheres."
An infarction is tissue literally losing its lifeline: when blood flow stops for long enough, cells begin to die.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does infarction come from?
Infarction comes through Latin from infarctus, meaning “stuffed” or “compressed,” a participle of infarcerre, “to stuff or press into.” In medical usage, the word developed from the idea of tissue becoming packed in or deprived of blood through obstruction. Its direct relatives include infarct, infarcted, and the medical adjectives infarctive and infarctional.
How infarction is actually used
This is a formal medical term used in clinical and scientific contexts. In general usage, myocardial infarction means a heart attack, but the broader word infarction can refer to dead tissue in any organ or body part.
Easily confused with infarction
An infarct is the area of dead tissue that results from an infarction, whereas an infarction is the process or condition of tissue death caused by inadequate blood flow.
Ischemia is inadequate blood supply that may cause tissue damage or death, while infarction specifically refers to the resulting death of tissue.