An embolism is a blood clot that travels from the site where it formed to another location in the body. Blood clots (fibrin clots) are the clumps that results when blood coagulates. Emboli can lodge in a blood vessel and block the flow of blood in that location. This blockage deprives the tissues in that location of normal blood flow and oxygen (ischemia). This can result in damage, destruction (infarction), or even death of the tissues (necrosis) in that area. See also arterial and pulmonary embolism.