Question

An embolus is a piece of a clot that lodges in a blood vessel, blocking the flow of blood through that vessel. Most emboli are composed of hydrophilic substances that can be dissolved into the water of blood relatively easily. However, two types of emboli--air emboli and fat emboli--are particularly dangerous and difficult to treat because both are composed of hydrophobic substances. Why do you think hydrophobic emboli are more difficult to break apart in the water-based environment of blood

Answer 1

Hydrophobic emboli are more difficult to break apart in the water-based environment of blood because they are water resistant.

An embolus is defined as anything that travels through the blood until its able to block the flow of blood through the vessel.

There are different types of embolism which depends on the material that makes up the embolus. These include:

• Thromboembolism

• Fat embolism

• Air embolism

• Septic embolism

As stated, air emboli and fat emboli are particularly dangerous and difficult to treat because both are composed of hydrophobic substances.

Hydrophobic substances are those substances that cannot break the hydrogen bond of water, therefore they are water resistant.

That is why hydrophobic emboli are more difficult to break apart in the water-based environment of blood.

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