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Arterial embolism is a sudden interruption of blood flow to an organ or body part. This is caused when the artery that supplies the blood to that organ or body part is blocked by an embolus ( blood clot or atherosclerotic plaque) that has moved in the bloodstream from its point of origin to a new location. The point of origin for the embolus can be the heart or a large blood vessel.
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An embolus is a blood clot, bit of tissue or tumor, gas bubble, or other foreign body that circulates in the blood stream until it becomes stuck in a blood vessel. When a blood clot develops in an artery and remains in place, it is called a thrombosis.
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