Final answer:
Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is when the blood supply to the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped, often due to blockage of the coronary arteries, leading to the death of the heart muscle tissue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition you are describing is known as myocardial infarction, more commonly referred to as a heart attack. This serious medical event occurs when the blood supply to a portion of the heart, specifically the heart muscle, is severely reduced or completely cut off. The blood flow becomes blocked due to a complete blockage of the coronary arteries. This blockage is often caused by the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque, which consists of substances like lipids, cholesterol, and fatty acids, along with white blood cells. If the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen, which it gets through the blood, for an extended period, typically more than five minutes, the affected tissue can die. This condition is irreversible since dead heart muscle cells cannot be regenerated by the body.