myocardial infarction

myocardial infarctionHeart tissue damaged by myocardial infarction (heart attack); the tissue shows signs of a form of cell death known as contraction band necrosis (wavy, dark pink lines; micrograph, 400x).

myocardial infarction, death of a section of the heart muscle, caused by an interruption of blood flow to the area. See heart attack.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title: myocardial infarction
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 22 November 2017
Access Date: November 13, 2026