Thrombosis
Thrombosis, formation of a blood clot, or thrombus, inside a blood vessel. Forming a clump of various blood cells , the clot remains attached at its point of formation, partially or completely blocking the flow of blood through the vessel. A clot that breaks free and travels to a different part of the circulatory system is called an embolism . The chief causes of thrombosis are injury to the inner lining of a blood vessel; blood disorders that result in thickened blood and an increased tendency toward clotting; and restricted blood flow, caused by such problems as obesity . People with the condition known as atherosclerosis are at special risk for thrombosis because their arteries are partially blocked by an accumulation of fatty tissue largely due to elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood. Diets high in saturated fats, such as in eggs and dairy products, are likely to raise blood cholesterol levels. When thrombosis occurs in an artery , the tissues that the artery normally sup...