Definition of Infarct

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Infarct: An area of tissue death due to a local lack of oxygen.

For example, in a myocardial infarction there is death of myocardial (heart muscle) tissue due to sudden (acute) deprivation of circulating blood. This is usually caused by arteriosclerosis with narrowing of the coronary arteries, the culminating event being a thrombosis (clot).

The word "infarct" comes from the Latin "infarcire" meaning "to plug up or cram." It refers to the clogging of the artery.

See also infarction.