ischemia /iskē″mē·ə/ [Gk, ischein, to hold back, haima, blood] , a decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a body part. The condition is often marked by pain and organ dysfunction, as in ischemic heart disease. Some causes of ischemia are arterial embolism, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and vasoconstriction. Also spelled ischaemia. Compare infarction. −ischemic, adj.
