myocardial infarction

myocardial infarctionHeart tissue damaged by myocardial infarction (heart attack); the tissue shows signs of a form of cell death known as contraction band necrosis (wavy, dark pink lines; micrograph, 400x).

myocardial infarction, death of a section of the heart muscle, caused by an interruption of blood flow to the area. See heart attack.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.