What is the term for a thrombus that breaks loose and moves with the bloodstream?

An embolism refers specifically to a thrombus that has detached from its original site and is carried through the bloodstream. When a thrombus forms, it typically adheres to a blood vessel wall, but if it dislodges, it can travel through the circulatory system and potentially obstruct blood flow in other areas, leading to serious complications.

The movement of the embolus can result in a blockage of a blood vessel, which may cause issues such as a heart attack or stroke, depending on where the embolism travels. Understanding embolisms is crucial in emergency medicine since they can lead to acute and life-threatening conditions that require immediate intervention.

In contrast, other terms like aneurysm refer to an abnormal bulge in a blood vessel, stenosis describes a narrowing of a vessel, and thrombosis is the formation of a thrombus within a blood vessel in situ. Thus, the terminology is specific and plays a pivotal role in identifying and managing various vascular conditions.