embolus
Quick Summary
An embolus is an abnormal particle circulating in the bloodstream that can obstruct blood flow, leading to a condition called embolism. This obstruction can occur when the embolus blocks a blood vessel, such as those supplying the brain, lungs, or heart muscle.12
The embolus itself can be a variety of substances, including a detached blood clot (thrombus), tumor cells, bacteria, fat from an injury, a foreign body, amniotic fluid, or an air bubble.13
When an embolus blocks blood flow to the brain, it can cause a stroke with symptoms like paralysis or speech impairment. An embolus in the lungs can lead to breathing difficulties, while one in a coronary artery can cause a heart attack. Treatment depends on the cause and location of the embolus, but anticoagulant drugs are often used to prevent further blood clot formation.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- embolism
…flow of blood by an embolus, a particle or aggregate of substance that is abnormally present in the bloodstream. The substance may be a blood clot that has broken loose from its point of formation (while it is still adherent to the vessel at the point where it was formed,…
Read More…flow of blood by an embolus, a particle or aggregate of substance that is abnormally present in the bloodstream. The substance may be a blood clot that has broken loose from its point of formation (while it is still adherent to the vessel at the point where it was formed,…
Read More 
cardiovascular diseasePulmonary heart disease (cor pulmonale)…as occurs with a massive embolus—a blood clot that has broken loose from its point of formation. This impairs blood flow through the lungs, causes additional reflex changes that add to the heart’s burden, and creates an acute form of high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, with dilation and…
Read More…as occurs with a massive embolus—a blood clot that has broken loose from its point of formation. This impairs blood flow through the lungs, causes additional reflex changes that add to the heart’s burden, and creates an acute form of high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, with dilation and…
Read More- cardiovascular diseaseArterial embolism
An embolus, a foreign or abnormal particle circulating in the blood, may block a vessel too small to permit further passage. The sources of emboli include blood clots from the chambers of the diseased or abnormally functioning heart. Mural thrombosis on the infarcted ventricular wall or…
Read MoreAn embolus, a foreign or abnormal particle circulating in the blood, may block a vessel too small to permit further passage. The sources of emboli include blood clots from the chambers of the diseased or abnormally functioning heart. Mural thrombosis on the infarcted ventricular wall or…
Read More