Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

What is the medical term for the death of tissue in the heart?

1. Cardiac arrest

2. Myocardial infarction

3. Angina pectoris

4. Cardiomyopathy

The correct answer is: Myocardial infarction

The correct answer is myocardial infarction, which refers specifically to the death of heart tissue due to a lack of blood supply, typically caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries. This condition is critical because when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, it begins to die, leading to severe complications or even death. Medical professionals often use this term to describe what happens during a heart attack, where the interruption of blood flow can cause significant and permanent damage to the heart muscle if not promptly addressed. Understanding this term is crucial in patient care, as prompt recognition and treatment can greatly affect patient outcomes. The other options represent different heart-related conditions. Cardiac arrest refers to the sudden loss of heart function, which can occur due to various reasons, including myocardial infarction. Angina pectoris is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle and indicates that the heart is not getting enough oxygen, but it does not imply tissue death. Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle itself, which can affect its size, shape, and ability to pump effectively, but it does not denote the acute tissue death associated with myocardial infarction.