Infarction
/ɪnˈfɑːrkʃən/noun
Localized tissue death caused by loss of blood supply.
Did you know?Infarction comes from Latin roots meaning to stuff or cram in, because ancient physicians described tissue becoming packed and hardened when blood flow was cut off.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
infarctus
“stuffed in, crammed”
Late Latin
Latin
infarctio
“a stuffing or cramming in”
Medieval Latin
Latin
infarctio (medical use)
“a blockage or plugging, especially of tissue”
18th–19th Century
French/Medical Latin
infarction
“medical term for tissue death caused by obstruction”
Modern English
English
infarction
“localized tissue death due to interrupted blood supply”