What terms describes the necrosis of cardiac muscle?

Myocardial Infarction (MI) specifically refers to the necrosis, or death, of cardiac muscle tissue due to a lack of blood supply, commonly resulting from a blockage in the coronary arteries. This interruption of blood flow leads to the death of muscle cells in the heart, which can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.

Understanding this term is crucial for medical professionals, as it highlights the acute nature of the condition and the need for immediate intervention to restore blood flow and minimize heart damage. Other terms provided describe different cardiac conditions: heart failure refers to the heart's inability to pump effectively; cardiac arrest is a sudden stop in heart function; and angina pectoris describes chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, but it does not involve actual tissue necrosis. Therefore, Myocardial Infarction is the appropriate term encompassing this specific process of heart muscle damage.