thrombus

(noun)

Ablood clot formed from platelets and other elements that forms in a blood vessel in a living organism. It may cause thrombosis or obstruction of the vessel at its point of formation or travel to other areas of the body

Related Terms

Examples of thrombus in the following topics:

  • Cerebrovascular Accident

    • In thrombotic stroke a thrombus (blood clot) usually forms around atherosclerotic plaques.
    • A thrombus itself (even if non-occluding) can lead to an embolic stroke if the thrombus breaks off, at which point it is called an "embolus."
    • An embolus is most frequently a thrombus, but it can also be a number of other substances including fat (e.g., from bone marrow in a broken bone), air, cancer cells, or clumps of bacteria (usually from infectious endocarditis).

  • Clot Retraction and Repair

    • Micrograph showing a thrombus (center of image) within a blood vessel of the placenta.

  • Transient Ischemic Attacks

    • This usually arises from a dislodged atherosclerotic plaque in one of the carotid arteries or from a thrombus (i.e., a blood clot) in the heart because of atrial fibrillation.