What condition is described by the blockage of a coronary artery?

The condition characterized by the blockage of a coronary artery is coronary atherosclerosis. This medical condition involves the buildup of plaques (which consist of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin) in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. Over time, this buildup narrows the arteries and can significantly restrict blood flow to the heart.

In the context of coronary atherosclerosis, the narrowing of the arteries can lead to ischemia (insufficient blood flow) and can also result in more severe complications, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) if a plaque ruptures, leading to thrombosis that completely occludes the artery.

While myocardial infarction results from this blockage, it is specifically the acute event that occurs due to the underlying disease of coronary atherosclerosis. Other conditions like heart arrhythmias involve disturbances in the heart's electrical activity, and valvular heart disease pertains to issues with the heart valves, neither of which directly relate to the blockage of coronary arteries.