Heart & Circulation

Pulmonary embolism

Also called: PE

What does Pulmonary embolism mean?

A blockage in a lung artery, usually caused by a clot that travelled from a deep vein.

⚠ This term can describe a potentially urgent or life-threatening condition. This definition is educational and should not be used to decide whether emergency care is needed.

U.S. National Library of Medicine
Understanding Medical Words ↗ National Cancer Institute
Cancer Terms Dictionary ↗ CDC
Vaccine Glossary ↗

This is a plain-language Healthway explanation, not an individual diagnosis. The meaning of a term can change with the clinical context in which it appears.