Infarction
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{{unreferenced|date=August 2007}}
{{Wiktionary}}
In [[medicine]], an '''infarction''' is the process resulting in a [[macroscopic]] area of [[necrosis|necrotic]] tissue in some organ caused by loss of adequate [[blood supply]]. Supplying [[artery|arteries]] may be blocked from within by some obstruction (e.g. a [[blood clot]] or fatty [[cholesterol]] deposit), or may be mechanically compressed or ruptured by trauma.
Infarction is commonly associated with [[atherosclerosis]], where an atherosclerotic plaque ruptures, a [[thrombus]] forms on the surface [[occlusion|occluding]] the blood flow and occasionally forming an [[Embolism|embolus]] that occludes other blood vessels downstream. Infarction can also involve mechanical blockage of the blood supply, such as when part of the gut [[hernia|herniates]] or [[volvulus|twists]].
Infarctions are divided into two types according the amount of [[hemorrhaging]] present:
* [[White infarction]]s ([[anemic infarct]]s) affect solid organs such as the [[heart]], [[spleen]], and [[kidneys]]. The occlusion is most often composed of [[platelet]]s, and the organ becomes white, or pale.
*[[Red infarction]]s ([[hemorrhagic infarct]]s), generally affecting the [[lung]]s. The occlusion consists more of [[red blood cell]]s and [[fibrin]] strands.
Diseases commonly associated with infarctions include:
* [[Myocardial infarction]] (heart attack)
* [[Pulmonary embolism]] ("lung attack")
* [[Cerebrovascular accident]] (stroke – 80% are due to infarction)
* [[Peripheral artery occlusive disease]] (the most severe form of which is [[gangrene]])
* [[Antiphospholipid syndrome]]
* [[Sepsis]]
* [[Giant-cell arteritis]] (GCA)
* [[Hernia]]
* [[Volvulus]]
[[Category:Gross pathology]]
[[cs:Infarkt]]
[[de:Infarkt]]
[[et:Infarkt]]
[[es:Infarto]]
[[fr:Infarctus]]
[[it:Infarto]]
[[hu:Infarktus]]
[[nl:Infarct]]
[[ja:梗塞]]
[[no:Infarkt]]
[[pl:Zawał]]
[[pt:Infarto]]
[[ru:Инфаркт]]
[[sq:Infarkti]]
[[sv:Infarkt]]
[[vi:Nhồi máu]]
[[tr:Enfarktüs]]
[[ur:احتِشاء]]