What medical term is used for a heart attack, characterized by heart muscle dying from decreased blood supply?

The medical term that refers to a heart attack is "myocardial infarction." This term specifically describes the condition where heart muscle tissue is damaged or dies due to insufficient blood supply, usually as a result of a blockage in the coronary arteries. The term "myocardial" pertains to the heart muscle (the myocardium), while "infarction" indicates that tissue death has occurred due to an obstruction of blood flow.

Understanding the term's components helps to clarify its meaning further. The heart requires a constant supply of oxygenated blood to function properly, and when blood flow is compromised, it can lead to tissue death, which is what happens during a myocardial infarction. This process can be triggered by various factors, including the buildup of plaque in the arteries or a blood clot forming.

The other terms presented are associated with different medical conditions. A cerebrovascular accident refers to a stroke, which affects blood flow to the brain rather than the heart. Ischemia describes a reduction in blood flow to an organ or tissue, which can be a precursor to a heart attack but is not synonymous with the event itself. Hemorrhage involves bleeding and is not directly related to the conditions of a heart attack. Understanding the precise terminology is critical in the