An abnormal blood clot in a vein is called?

• A. Venous thromboembolism
• B. Deep vein thrombosis
• C. Embolus
• D. Thrombus

Answer: (D)

An abnormal blood clot that forms and stays in a vein is called a thrombus. This term refers to a clot that develops in place within the vessel wall and can obstruct blood flow. If the clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, it becomes an embolus; when it lodges in the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis describes a thrombus specifically in a deep vein, so it’s about location rather than the general name for the clot. Venous thromboembolism is the broader disease process that includes both DVT and PE, not the name of the clot itself. So the best term for a clot formed in a vein is thrombus.