Final answer:
An embolus lodging in a coronary artery can cause a heart attack due to blocked blood flow and lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, leading to cell death and potentially serious cardiac complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
If an embolus lodges in a coronary artery, it may cause a heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI). An embolus is a piece of a clot that breaks free and travels through the bloodstream. When this embolus gets stuck in a coronary artery, it can block the blood flow. This blockage prevents oxygen from reaching parts of the heart muscle, leading to damage or death of the heart tissue. Coronary artery disease, characterized by atherosclerosis, is a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries, reducing blood flow and flexibility. If a plaque ruptures, it can form a clot or cause a piece of plaque to become an embolus. When the blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed, it can result in ischemia and hypoxia, causing cardiomyocytes to die and potentially lead to serious consequences such as arrhythmias, heart failure, or cardiac arrest.