embolus

[ em-buh-luh s ]
/ ˈɛm bə ləs /

noun, plural em·bo·li [em-buh-lahy] /ˈɛm bəˌlaɪ/. Pathology.

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.

Origin of embolus

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

Example sentences from the Web for embolus

British Dictionary definitions for embolus

embolus
/ (ˈɛmbələs) /

noun plural -li (-ˌlaɪ)

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 Origin for embolus

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

Medical definitions for embolus

embolus
[ ĕmbə-ləs ]

n. pl. em•bo•li (-lī′)

A mass, such as an air bubble, detached blood clot, or foreign body, that travels in the bloodstream and lodges in a blood vessel, thus serving to obstruct or occlude such a vessel.

Scientific definitions for embolus

embolus
[ ĕmbə-ləs ]

Plural emboli (ĕmbə-lī)

See embolism.