Definition

The process of restoring blood flow to an organ or tissue that has been deprived of it, often after an injury or medical procedure.

Example

Reperfusion therapy is critical for patients who have suffered a heart attack.

Conversation

I read an interesting article about reperfusion after a heart attack.

Oh really? What did it say about it?

It explained how crucial reperfusion is for saving heart tissue.

That makes sense; restoring blood flow quickly is so important!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Reperfusion is formed from "re-" (meaning again) and "perfusio" (from Latin, meaning to pour over or through). The word refers to the process of restoring blood flow to an organ or tissue after a period of ischemia, essentially meaning to pour blood over again.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pouring over again' — 're-' means again, and 'perfusio' means to pour. This helps you remember that reperfusion is about restoring blood flow.

Visually Confused Words