Glossary

Clotting factors
Substances in the blood that cause blood to clot.

Embolus
Blood clot that moves through the bloodstream and lodges in a narrowed vessel and blocks circulation.

Pulmonary embolism
A blood clot in the pulmonary artery of the lung

Thromboembolism or embolism
Clot that breaks loose and migrates through the bloodstream

Thrombolytic agents (“clot busters”)
Medications that dissolve blood clots

Thrombosis
A blood clot inside a blood vessel

Thrombus
A blood clot formed from platelets (a part of a blood cell) and other elements

Venous thromboembolism
Includes both deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism