1. an area of dead tissue resulting from obstruction of a supplying artery. Infarction of brain tissue can have effects ranging from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the dead tissue and its location in the brain (see cerebral infarction). A myocardial infarction (heart attack) involves death of a segment of the heart muscle, usually due to obstruction of a coronary artery, and is a common cause of death.

2. a sudden shortfall in the blood supply to a particular tissue, organ, or part resulting from obstruction of a supplying artery, due, for example, to thrombosis or embolism. Also called infarct. See stroke.