What is the term used for a thrombus that becomes lodged in pathways to the lung?

The correct answer is the term "pulmonary embolism," which refers specifically to a thrombus or clot that travels through the bloodstream and becomes lodged in the pulmonary arteries, leading to obstruction of blood flow to the lungs. This blockage can cause serious complications, including reduced oxygenation of the blood, and it is a critical condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Although "embolus" refers to any material—such as a thrombus, fat globule, air bubble, or foreign substance—that travels through the bloodstream and can block a vessel, it does not specify that the blockage occurs in the lungs. Therefore, while all pulmonary embolisms are caused by an embolus, the term "pulmonary embolism" distinctly highlights the location and implications of the blockage in the pulmonary circulation.

The other listed terms such as "thrombosis" simply refers to the formation of a thrombus or blood clot itself and does not denote any travel or lodgment into vessels. "Hemolysis" refers to the destruction of red blood cells and is unrelated to the concepts of thrombosis or embolism in the context of lung blockage.