Which term best matches the following definition: Condition in which damage occurs to the muscular tissue of the heart, commonly caused by obstructed circulation; also referred to as a heart attack?

Which term best matches the following definition: Condition in which damage occurs to the muscular tissue of the heart, commonly caused by obstructed circulation; also referred to as a heart attack?

• A. Myocardial Infarction
• B. Endocarditis
• C. Epilepsy
• D. Diabetes Mellitus

Answer: (A)

Damage to the heart muscle from a blocked blood supply is called a myocardial infarction. Myocardial means heart muscle, and infarction means tissue death due to lack of blood flow. When a coronary artery is obstructed, part of the heart muscle doesn’t receive oxygen, leading to injury or death of that tissue. This is the medical term for what people commonly call a heart attack. The other terms refer to different conditions: endocarditis is an infection of the heart’s inner lining, epilepsy is a brain seizure disorder, and diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease affecting insulin and blood sugar.

Damage to the heart muscle from a blocked blood supply is called a myocardial infarction. Myocardial means heart muscle, and infarction means tissue death due to lack of blood flow. When a coronary artery is obstructed, part of the heart muscle doesn’t receive oxygen, leading to injury or death of that tissue. This is the medical term for what people commonly call a heart attack. The other terms refer to different conditions: endocarditis is an infection of the heart’s inner lining, epilepsy is a brain seizure disorder, and diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease affecting insulin and blood sugar.