Thrombotic Occlusion: Definition, Causes, and Understanding

A thrombotic occlusion is a blockage within a blood vessel caused by a clot or thrombus. Medtalk of the Mc-Graw Hill Concise Dictionary states that a thrombotic occlusion is "any vascular blockage caused by a thrombus or by thromboembolism."

Identification

• Thrombotic is an adjective describing the type of occlusion. Thrombotic is from thrombosis--the development of a blood clot in a blood vessel.

Etymology

• According to Merriam-Webster, thrombosis comes from the Greek word "thrombousthai" meaning, "to become clotted," from "thrombos" or clot. The Online Etymology Dictionary states its meaning as "clumping" or "curdling."

History

• The usage of "thrombosis" dates back to 1706, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. Merriam-Webster dates it at 1866.

Occlusion Etymology

• Occlusion denotes blockage. Its word origin is from the Latin "occludere," which means to close up, formed from the roots "ob" and "claudere." These root words mean "against" and "to close," respectively.

Causes

• Compromised veins that obstruct the normal blood flow, blood that easily coagulates or trauma to the blood vessel can cause thrombotic occlusions.