What is the term for a blood clot that forms within a blood vessel and typically occludes blood flow?

Thrombosis refers specifically to the formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel, which can obstruct blood flow. This process typically occurs in veins or arteries when there is damage to the vascular endothelium, changes in blood flow, or alterations in blood composition, leading to the accumulation of platelets and fibrin that create a clot.

In contrast, an embolism involves a clot or other material that travels through the bloodstream and lodges in a vessel, leading to obstruction at a distal site. An aneurysm refers to a localized dilation or ballooning of a blood vessel wall and does not directly describe a blood clot formation. Phlebothrombosis is a specific type of thrombosis that occurs in the veins, but the broader term “thrombosis” encompasses all types of clot formation in both veins and arteries. Thus, thrombosis accurately captures the essence of the question regarding the occlusion of blood flow due to a clot formed within a vessel.