A blockage of a blood vessel caused by a foreign substance (embolus) that travels through the bloodstream and lodges in a vessel, cutting off blood flow. The embolus can be a blood clot, air bubble, fat globule, or other material.
From Greek 'embolos' meaning 'wedge' or 'stopper,' combined with the suffix '-ism.' The term literally describes something that acts like a cork or plug blocking a vessel, first used medically in the mid-19th century.
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