1. Localized necrosis resulting from obstruction (plugging up) of the blood supply.
2. The formation of an infarct, an area of tissue death due to a local lack of oxygen.

For example, in a myocardial infarction there is a death of myocardial (heart muscle) tissue due to sudden (acute) deprivation of circulating blood. This is usually caused by arteriosclerosis with narrowing of the coronary arteries, the culminating event being a thrombosis ( blood clot).

Besides designating the process of forming the infarct, infarction is synonymous with the infarct itself.

The word infarction comes from the Latin infarcire meaning "to plug up, to stuff" or "to cram". It refers to the clogging, or plugging, of the artery.

An occurrence during a time when circulation to a region of the heart is obstructed and necrosis (death of tissue cells) is occurring: Known as a heart attack, acute myocardial infarction is the sudden death of part of the heart muscle which is characterized, in most such conditions, by severe and unremitting chest pain.

Men are more likely to suffer acute myocardial infarctions attacks than women, smokers more than nonsmokers, and the children of those who have died of a heart attack are more likely to die from the same cause.

A degenerative or necrotic (deadly) abnormality resulting from an acute deprivation of blood supplies in the heart muscle, usually resulting from a formation of a thrombus (blood clot) in the coronary artery system (the arteries that encircle and supply the heart with blood): Because the majority of deaths occur in the first hours following cardiac infarction, it is essential that treatment should not be delayed.

An obstruction (plugging up) of the blood supply in the brain: A cerebral infarction may completely block the artery, cutting off the normal supply of blood and oxygen to the brain, resulting in a stroke.

An increase in the size of a myocardial infarction, occurring after the initial infarction and usually accompanied by a return of acute symptoms; such as, angina unrelieved by appropriate medicines.

Usually identified as a heart attack: A myocardial infarction consists of sudden pain in the center of the chest and it may also include shortness of breath, restlessness, be with cold-clammy skin, nauseation or vomiting, and even lose consciousness.

Some of the factors that can cause myocardial infarctions include increased age, unhealthy diets, excessive stress, obesity, and high blood pressure.

Localized necrosis of lung tissue, due to obstruction of the arterial blood supply.

An infarction in the lung usually resulting from pulmonary embolism.

Myocardial infarction occurring without pain or other symptoms; often detected only by electrographic or postmortem examination.

An actual infarction of the myocardium, but with none of the signs or symptoms of this condition.