What does ischaemia mean?
Ischaemia is the medical term for an inadequate supply of blood to a particular body part, organ, or tissue. It may result from a blocked or narrowed artery, a blood clot, compression of a vessel, or any other disruption of normal circulation. The affected tissue receives too little oxygen and nutrient-rich blood, potentially causing pain, impaired function, tissue injury, or, in severe cases, death. Recognised forms include cerebral ischaemia, affecting the brain, and myocardial ischaemia, affecting the heart muscle. The term is also associated with ischaemic stroke and ischaemic heart disease. In medical writing, ischaemia is distinguished from hypoxia: ischaemia specifically concerns reduced blood flow, while hypoxia concerns inadequate oxygen and may arise through other mechanisms. The word is formal and chiefly used in clinical contexts. British English generally spells it ischaemia, while the equivalent American spelling is ischemia.
nounAn inadequate supply of blood to a body part, organ, or tissue, caused by obstruction or impaired circulation. Ischaemia can deprive tissues of oxygen and nutrients and may lead to tissue damage or death.
- Inadequate blood supply to a body part, organ, or tissue because circulation is obstructed or otherwise impaired.
"The scan revealed cerebral ischaemia, indicating reduced blood flow to the brain."
"Sudden loss of blood flow to the brain can cause cerebral ischaemia and permanent neurological damage."
"The test was used to detect myocardial ischaemia in patients with chest pain."
The plural is used when referring to separate cases or types of ischaemia, although singular and collective usage is common in medical writing.
"The study examined ischaemias affecting the brain and the limbs."
When an artery narrows or blocks, the tissue beyond it begins to starve—even though the blood may still be elsewhere in the body.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ischaemia come from?
Ischaemia was formed in New Latin from Greek elements associated with iskhaimos, meaning “dry,” and haima, meaning “blood,” reflecting the condition of bloodlessness or insufficient blood supply. It entered English through Latin and became established in medical usage during the 19th century. The closely related forms ischemic and ischemia reflect the same Greek roots and differ chiefly in spelling and grammatical form.
Related word forms
How ischaemia is actually used
This is primarily a formal medical term. British English normally uses the spelling ischaemia, while American English generally uses ischemia; the corresponding adjective is ischaemic in British usage and ischemic in American usage.
Easily confused with ischaemia
Ischemia is the American spelling of the same medical term; ischaemia is the standard British spelling.
Ischaemia means insufficient blood flow, whereas hypoxia means insufficient oxygen in tissues or blood; ischaemia can cause hypoxia.