Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) Practice exam

Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is characterized by the death of heart muscle cells due to a lack of sufficient blood flow, typically caused by a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries. This deprives the heart tissues of oxygen and essential nutrients, leading to cell death in the affected area.

The extent of the infarction depends on factors like the duration of the blockage and the size of the area supplied by the obstructed artery. Following a myocardial infarction, the dead heart muscle cells are replaced by scar tissue, which does not function in the same way as healthy heart tissue, ultimately affecting the overall heart function.

In contrast, heart failure typically involves a gradual weakening of the heart, but it does not primarily result in acute cell death; rather, it reflects the heart’s inability to pump effectively. Angina is a symptom of reduced blood flow to the heart but without the irreversible damage associated with myocardial infarction. Arrhythmias involve irregular heartbeats and may sometimes arise from underlying conditions, but they do not necessarily lead to increased death of heart muscle cells. Thus, myocardial infarction is the condition in which an increase in heart muscle cell death is most relevant.