How can an embolus cause damage in the body?

As identified by the German pathologist Rudolf Virchow, an embolus is a detached portion of a thrombus or other substance that travels through the bloodstream until it becomes trapped in a narrower vessel.12

An embolus causes damage by obstructing the flow of blood to vital organs and tissues. The specific consequences depend on the location of the blockage:3

• Brain: Obstruction of blood supply to the brain can result in a stroke, potentially causing paralysis, aphasia, memory impairment, or death.3
• Lungs: A pulmonary embolism occurs when an embolus blocks an artery in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties and chest pain.3
• Heart: If an embolus lodges in a coronary artery, it can cause a myocardial infarction, resulting in the death of a section of the heart muscle.3

While an embolus travels freely, it typically does not cause symptoms; damage occurs only when it creates a lesion by blocking circulation to neighboring parts.31