What is an Infarct?

An infarct is the death of tissue due to a lack of blood supply. The artery supplying a tissue or organ may be blocked by a clot, fatty plaque or may be squeezed by the growth of a tumour.

Infarctions are commonly associated with hypertension or atherosclerosis. In atherosclerotic formations a plaque develops and this endothelial damage results in thrombus formation on the surface of the vessel wall occluding the blood flow. Occasionally, the plaque may rupture forming an embolus that travels with the blood flow and can block blood vessels downstream. Infarctions can also involve mechanical blockage of the blood supply.