What does infarction refer to in medical terms?

In medical terminology, infarction specifically refers to the process of necrosis or death of tissue due to the lack of blood supply. This condition often results from an obstruction in the blood vessels, such as a blood clot, which prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching the affected area. The cells in that region begin to die because they cannot survive without adequate perfusion, leading to tissue death.

Understanding infarction is crucial in contexts such as heart attacks (myocardial infarction) or strokes (cerebral infarction), where the timely restoration of blood flow is essential to minimize tissue damage. Other terms like swelling, rejuvenation, or scarring refer to different processes that do not describe the immediate tissue death caused by interrupted blood supply. Thus, recognizing infarction as the necrosis of tissue provides clarity on its implications in a clinical setting, reinforcing the importance of prompt medical intervention in vascular incidents.