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Blood clots

• Overview

Definition:

Blood clots are the clumps that result from coagulation of the blood (blood hardens to from liquid to solid). A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel or within the heart and remains there is called a thrombus. A thrombus that travels from the blood vessel or heart to another location in the body is called an embolus, and the disorder, an embolism. For example, an embolus that occurs in the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism.

Sometimes, a piece of atherosclerotic plaque, small pieces of tumor, fat clumps, air, amniotic fluid, or other materials can act in the same manner as an embolus.

For more information, see the following:

• Arterial embolism
• Pulmonary embolism
• Deep venous thrombosis
• Renal vein thrombosis
• Atheroembolic renal disease
• Thrombophlebitis
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Angina

Alternative Names:

Clot; Emboli; Thrombi

• Review Date: 11/2/2006
• Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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