Which term is a clot that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream?

Prepare for the SkillsUSA Medical Terminology Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions that include hints and explanations to boost your confidence for exam success!

Multiple Choice

Which term is a clot that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream?

Explanation:
A traveling clot is called an embolus. An embolus is any material that breaks loose and moves through the bloodstream, such as a blood clot, fat, air, or tumor fragment. When it lodges in a vessel, it can block blood flow and cause an embolism—the obstruction itself. Erythema is skin redness, and endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves, neither of which describe a moving clot. So the best term for a clot that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream is embolus.

A traveling clot is called an embolus. An embolus is any material that breaks loose and moves through the bloodstream, such as a blood clot, fat, air, or tumor fragment. When it lodges in a vessel, it can block blood flow and cause an embolism—the obstruction itself. Erythema is skin redness, and endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves, neither of which describe a moving clot. So the best term for a clot that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream is embolus.

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