Final answer:
The key difference between stable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction is that the latter involves the death of heart muscle cells, whereas the former does not.
Step-by-step explanation:
A major difference between stable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction is that stable angina pectoris does NOT involve ischemic myocardial necrosis. Stable angina occurs when heart muscle cells receive inadequate blood flow and oxygen during exertion and the condition improves with rest or medications like nitroglycerin. In contrast, a myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, involves the death of myocardial cells due to a complete blockage of a coronary artery, often by a blood clot or the rupture of plaque.
Stable angina is chest pain that occurs with exertion and improves with rest or nitroglycerin, while myocardial infarction is a heart attack that occurs due to a complete blockage of a coronary artery. Stable angina is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, usually due to atherosclerosis.