Final answer:
A heart attack is also known as myocardial infarction. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing the cardiac muscle cells to die.
Step-by-step explanation:
A heart attack is also known as myocardial infarction, which is the formal term for a heart attack. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing the cardiac muscle cells to die. It is often triggered by the blockage of a coronary artery by a buildup of plaque or by a portion of an unstable plaque traveling through the arteries and blocking a smaller vessel. Heart attacks can be caused by factors such as a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the heart or excessive exercise.