Final answer:
An embolism is a thrombus that has broken free from the blood vessel wall and entered the circulation. Unlike a thrombus, an embolus can travel through the bloodstream and potentially block a critical vessel, leading to medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, or pulmonary embolisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
An embolism differs from a thrombus in that:
An embolus is a thrombus that has broken free from the blood vessel wall and entered the circulation, whereas a thrombus is an aggregation of platelets, erythrocytes, and even white blood cells typically trapped within a mass of fibrin strands that forms within an intact or slightly damaged blood vessel.
Unlike a thrombus, an embolus can travel through the bloodstream and potentially block a vessel critical to a major organ. When an embolus becomes trapped, it is called an embolism, which can cause medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, or pulmonary embolisms.