MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

Which of the following is another term for a heart attack?

1. Cardiac Arrest

2. Myocardial Infarction

3. Coronary Thrombosis

4. Myocardial Ischemia

The correct answer is: Myocardial Infarction

A heart attack is medically termed a myocardial infarction. This term refers to the event that occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, typically by a blood clot, resulting in damage to the heart muscle due to lack of oxygen. Understanding this term is crucial because it is often used in medical contexts to specify the type of heart problem being addressed. While other terms listed are related to heart conditions, they describe different phenomena. Cardiac arrest refers to the cessation of effective heart function, which may lead to sudden death if not treated immediately. Coronary thrombosis involves a blood clot specifically forming in a coronary artery but does not necessarily indicate that a heart attack has occurred. Myocardial ischemia denotes a reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle, which can occur as a precursor to a heart attack but does not define the event itself. Thus, myocordial infarction is the precise term that captures the occurrence of a heart attack, emphasizing the critical nature of the condition.