Final answer:
Ischemia is the term that refers to the lack of oxygen supply to heart muscle cells, which can lead to myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to a lack of oxygen supply to heart muscle cells is ischemia. Ischemia leads to reduced blood flow to a tissue region downstream of a narrowed vessel. When ischemia occurs in the heart, it can result in hypoxia, which is the decreased supply of oxygen to the tissues. If the heart muscle, or myocardium, experiences prolonged hypoxia, it can lead to cell death and severe impairment of heart function, a condition known as myocardial infarction or a heart attack. Myocardial infarction is usually the result of a complete blockage of the coronary arteries, preventing the heart tissue from receiving adequate blood and oxygen.