The spelling of the word "red infarct" follows the usual English conventions. The pronunciation, however, is slightly different. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /rɛd ɪnˈfɑrkt/. The "r" is pronounced with a slight rolling of the tongue, while the "e" is pronounced as in "bed". The "t" at the end is silent, but the stress is on the second syllable, "farkt". This term refers to an area of tissue that has died due to lack of blood supply and appears red due to hemorrhage.
Red infarct is a medical term used to describe a type of tissue damage that occurs due to blocked blood supply to an organ or tissue. It is characterized by its distinct red appearance, which is caused by the presence of bleeding into the affected area.
When a red infarct occurs, the blood supply to a specific area is obstructed or compromised, leading to inadequate oxygen and nutrient delivery to the tissues. This can happen as a result of various factors such as blood vessel occlusion by a clot, embolism, or arterial narrowing.
Unlike a pale or white infarct, which occurs when there is complete cessation of blood flow, a red infarct typically arises in organs with a dual blood supply or in highly vascularized tissues such as the lungs or intestines. The dual blood supply often allows for collateral circulation, meaning alternative routes for blood to reach the compromised area, leading to some blood flow preservation.
The red appearance of a red infarct is due to the presence of hemorrhage caused by the rupture of blood vessels within the affected tissue. The extravasated blood gives the infarcted tissue a reddish color, and this sign is often associated with reperfusion injury, which occurs when blood flow is restored after a temporary blockage.
Identification of a red infarct is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of various medical conditions. It plays a crucial role in understanding the extent and severity of the tissue damage, as well as the overall prognosis for the affected individual.
An area, red in color and swollen, the seat of hemorrhagic infiltration.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "red infarct" can be broken down into two parts: "red" and "infarct".
The term "red" refers to the color associated with this type of infarct. When tissue undergoes infarction, it is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, leading to ischemic cell death. In the case of a red infarct, the tissue is still being supplied with blood, albeit reduced blood flow, leading to the red appearance. This color is caused by the presence of red blood cells that leak out of the damaged blood vessels.
The word "infarct" originates from the Latin word "infarctus", which means "stuffed into". It was first used in a medical context to describe conditions where blood flow is blocked, leading to tissue death.