An infarct is defined as?

• A. A large area of infection
• B. A small area of dead tissue from lack of blood supply
• C. Blockage of a vein
• D. Chronic tissue swelling

Answer: (B)

An infarct is a localized area of dead tissue caused by interruption of the blood supply. When an artery feeding a region becomes blocked, the tissue beyond that blockage experiences ischemia, cannot generate enough energy, and cells die. This necrosis creates a focused patch of dead tissue—the infarct. The size can vary by organ and situation, but the defining idea is dead tissue from loss of perfusion, not infection, not a blockage of a vein, and not swelling from edema. Practically, you see myocardial infarction from coronary blockage or cerebral infarction from a blocked brain artery. Restoring blood flow as quickly as possible can limit the extent of infarction, but once cells die, they are lost and replaced by scar tissue.