What is the primary characteristic of an embolism?

An embolism is primarily characterized as a piece of thrombus, or blood clot, that has dislodged from its original site and travels through the bloodstream to a different location, where it can cause blockage. This process may result in significant complications, depending on where the embolism lodges, such as in a blood vessel leading to vital organs.

The dislodged thrombus can originate from various sources, including deep veins in the legs (in the case of venous thromboembolism) or the heart. Once this clot travels and obstructs blood flow to another part of the body, it disrupts the normal circulation of blood and can lead to conditions such as stroke or pulmonary embolism.

This understanding emphasizes that an embolism is dynamic in nature, as it involves movement and blockage caused by a foreign object (which is the thrombus), rather than being stationary like a formed clot.