# Embolus --- An **embolus** (plural: **emboli**) is anything--a clot, fat, a bubble, amniotic fluid, tissue, or bacterial debris--that moves through the blood vessels until it reaches one that is too small to let it pass. It if causes a blockage it can starve tissues of oxygen which can even lead to an [[tissue perfusion|infarction]] like a [[myocardial infarction]], a [[ischemic stroke]] or a [[pulmonary embolism]]. Emboli are commonly caused by blood clots, which are formed when a small piece breaks off of a [[thrombus]]. These are called thromboembolism. MARGE?! ___