occluding

Occluding is the act of blocking, closing, or obstructing a passage or opening. It is used across disciplines to describe processes that prevent flow, passage, or contact, and the related adjective occlusive denotes materials or actions that cause occlusion. The term derives from the Latin occludere, meaning to shut.

In medicine and biology, occlusion describes intentional or pathological blockage of bodily channels. Vascular occlusion stops blood flow and can be used therapeutically with clamps, balloons, or embolic agents, or it can occur as a complication. Occlusion therapy in ophthalmology is used to treat certain forms of amblyopia by patching the better-seeing eye to encourage use of the weaker eye. In dentistry, occlusion refers to the contact between upper and lower teeth when the jaws close, with occlusal surfaces examined to balance bite and function. In cell biology, occlusion relates to the sealing of intercellular spaces by tight junctions, with proteins such as occludin and claudins contributing to the barrier between adjacent cells.

Occluding also appears in materials science and geology. Gas or vapors can become occluded within solid materials, meaning they are trapped within pores or crystal lattices. In catalysis and adsorption, occluding agents or coatings may block pores to control access to internal surfaces. Across contexts, occluding emphasizes the cessation or restriction of flow, passage, or contact.