What differentiates ischemia from infarction?

Ischemia is a condition characterized by inadequate blood flow to a tissue, which leads to a deficiency in oxygen and nutrients needed for cellular metabolism. This state can be reversible if the blood supply is restored in a timely manner. The cells may recover fully without permanent damage, as long as the ischemic episode is not prolonged.

In contrast, infarction refers to tissue death caused by a complete and prolonged lack of blood supply, which results in irreversible damage to the affected tissue. The process of infarction leads to necrosis, where the cells die and cannot recover.

Understanding this distinction is critical in clinical settings, as the prompt recognition of ischemia can lead to interventions that restore blood flow and potentially save the tissue from progressing to infarction. Therefore, the characteristic that differentiates ischemia from infarction is indeed that ischemia is reversible while infarction is irreversible.