Infarct
/ˈɪn.fɑːrkt/noun
An area of tissue that has died because its blood supply was blocked.
Did you know?The medical term comes from the same Latin verb that produced “farce,” because both originally described something being stuffed or filled.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰerǵ-
“To stuff, fill, or pack; the proposed ancient root behind Latin farcire.”
Classical Latin
Latin
farcīre
“To stuff, cram, or fill.”
Classical Latin
Latin
infarcīre
“To stuff or cram into; to pack in.”
Late Latin
Latin
infarctus
“Stuffed in or packed full; the past participle of infarciō.”
19th Century
Medical Latin
infarctus
“An area of tissue made solid or obstructed, especially through loss of blood supply.”
Modern English
English
infarct
“An area of dead tissue caused by interrupted blood flow.”