Embol/o corresponds to which of the following meanings?

Embol/o corresponds to which of the following meanings?

• A. Clot
• B. Vein
• C. Air
• D. Vessel

Answer: (A)

Embol/o means a plug that travels through the bloodstream and blocks a vessel. The most common example is a clot that becomes an embolus and causes an embolism. So the term best matched by this root is clot, since the embolus is typically a clot obstructing a vessel. The other options refer to structures or things that aren’t the obstructing material itself (vein is a vessel, and air can cause an embolism but isn’t what the root specifically denotes). Understanding this helps explain why an embolus commonly leads to blockage by a clot.

Embol/o means a plug that travels through the bloodstream and blocks a vessel. The most common example is a clot that becomes an embolus and causes an embolism. So the term best matched by this root is clot, since the embolus is typically a clot obstructing a vessel. The other options refer to structures or things that aren’t the obstructing material itself (vein is a vessel, and air can cause an embolism but isn’t what the root specifically denotes). Understanding this helps explain why an embolus commonly leads to blockage by a clot.