embolus

[ em-buh-luhs ]

noun

, Pathology.

, plural em·bo·li [em, -b, uh, -lahy].

1. undissolved material carried by the blood and impacted in some part of the vascular system, as thrombi or fragments of thrombi, tissue fragments, clumps of bacteria, protozoan parasites, fat globules, or gas bubbles.

embolus

/ ˈɛmbələs /

noun

1. material, such as part of a blood clot or an air bubble, that is transported by the blood stream until it becomes lodged within a small vessel and impedes the circulation Compare thrombus

Word History and Origins

Origin of embolus¹

1660–70; < Latin: piston < Greek émbolos stopper, equivalent to em- em- ² + bólos a throw, akin to bállein to throw

Word History and Origins

Origin of embolus¹

C17: via Latin from Greek embolos stopper, from emballein to insert, from ballein to throw; see emblem

Example Sentences

An embolus can occur when amniotic fluid gets into the maternal bloodstream.

From BBC

Continuing his closing speech for a second day, Mr Myers told Manchester Crown Court the "overarching theory of air embolus" was at the "heart" of this case.

From BBC

She told the court that if the cause of death was established as air embolus, then it would have come from the person connecting the fluids, "which wasn't me".

From BBC

He also went on to say that Dr Evans did not have any empirical research to back up his claims about the effects of air embolus.

From BBC

Several months into the pandemic, doctors and scientists began to recognize that the coronavirus was causing blood clots, leading to strokes, heart attacks and emboli.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barricade
• closure
• encirclement
• restriction
• roadblock
• siege
• stoppage