Thrombosis: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this term in medical or clinical contexts when referring to the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, which can potentially block the flow of blood through the circulatory system.

• The patient was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and needed immediate treatment.
• Risk factors for thrombosis include prolonged immobility and genetic predisposition.

This term is appropriate for general or non-specialized discussions about the body's natural process of forming clots to stop bleeding. It can be used in everyday language as well as in educational contexts.

• Blood clotting is essential to prevent excessive blood loss from injuries.
• Vitamin K plays a significant role in the blood clotting process.

Used in medical or clinical settings to describe a situation where an embolus (a dislodged blood clot or other substance) travels through the bloodstream and causes a blockage in a blood vessel. This term usually has a more urgent and serious connotation than the others.

• A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs.
• The doctor explained that an embolism could occur if the blood clot traveled to the brain, heart, or lungs.

This term is often used in scientific, medical, or technical contexts to describe the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a clot. It is more formal than 'blood clotting'.

• The coagulation cascade involves multiple steps leading to the formation of a stable blood clot.
• Defects in coagulation can lead to disorders such as hemophilia.