What is the term for the death of heart muscle?

• A. Myocardial infarction
• B. Angina pectoris
• C. Atherosclerosis
• D. Heart failure

Answer: (A)

The death of heart muscle is called a myocardial infarction. It occurs when a coronary artery becomes blocked, usually by a clot that forms on a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque, cutting off oxygen to a region of the heart muscle. Prolonged ischemia leads to irreversible cell death (necrosis) in the affected area, which is the infarct. In many cases this is accompanied by release of cardiac enzymes into the blood and characteristic changes on ECG or imaging. Angina pectoris, by contrast, is chest pain from temporary ischemia without tissue death. Atherosclerosis is the process of plaque buildup in arteries that can lead to blockage. Heart failure describes a state where the heart’s pumping ability is insufficient to meet the body’s needs and may result from myocardial damage, but it is defined by function, not by death of heart muscle.