Zatorowy

Zatorowy is a term that can refer to several concepts, primarily related to the medical condition of embolism. In medicine, an embolism is a blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus, which is a detached intravascular solid, liquid, or gaseous mass that is carried by the blood from its point of origin to a distant site, where it causes tissue damage or infarction. The adjective "zatorowy" in Polish translates directly to "embolic" in English, describing something that is caused by or related to an embolism.

For example, a "zatorowy udar mózgu" would be an embolic stroke, where a clot travels to the brain and blocks a blood vessel. Similarly, "zatorowość płucna" refers to pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition where a blood clot, often originating in the legs, travels to the lungs and obstructs an artery. The term emphasizes the origin and nature of the blockage as being due to a traveling foreign body within the circulatory system.

Beyond its medical application, "zatorowy" might also be used in a more general sense to describe a blockage or obstruction, particularly in contexts where a foreign object is causing the impediment. However, its most common and significant usage is within the medical field to denote conditions arising from emboli. Understanding the etymology, which links to the Polish word for a dam or barrier, helps explain its application to blockages.