Infarction is a medical term that refers to the death of tissue due to a lack of blood flow. It commonly occurs when a blood vessel supplying an organ or part of the body becomes blocked, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. This can lead to damage or death of cells in that region. Infarction is often used to describe heart attacks, where a blockage prevents blood from flowing to the heart muscle, causing tissue death. The medical term "infarction" comes from the Latin word for "struck by," reflecting the idea that something has struck or hit the affected area, leading to its damage or death.