embolus

embolus /em·bo·lus/ (em´bŏ-lus) pl. em´boli   [L.] a mass of clotted blood or other material brought by the blood from one vessel and forced into a smaller one, obstructing the circulation. See embolism.

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fat embolus  one composed of oil or fat.

riding embolus , saddle embolus, straddling embolus one at the bifurcation of an artery, blocking both branches.

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em·bo·lus (mb-ls)

n. pl. em·bo·li (-l)

A mass, such as an air bubble, detached blood clot, or foreign body, that travels in the bloodstream and lodges in a blood vessel, thus serving to obstruct or occlude such a vessel.

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Embolus

An embolus (or emboli the plural form) is a blood clot that has detached from its site of origin and travels to the lungs (pulmonary artery), where it can rupture the artery, causing death.

Mentioned in: Endocarditis, Myxoma, Vena Cava Filter

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embolus

[em′bələs] pl. emboli

Etymology: Gk, embolos, plug

a foreign object, quantity of air or gas, bit of tissue or tumor, or piece of a thrombus that circulates in the bloodstream until it becomes lodged in a vessel. embolic, emboloid, adj.

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embolus (em´blus),

n a blood clot or other material that travels in the bloodstream and then lodges in a blood vessel and obstructs circulation.

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embolus

pl. emboli [Gr.] a clot or other plug, usually part or all of a thrombus, brought by the blood from another vessel and forced into a smaller one, thus obstructing circulation. See also embolism.

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fibrocartilaginous embolus

see fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy.

saddle embolus

one situated at the bifurcation of a large artery, usually the terminal aorta, blocking both branches. See also saddle thrombus.