An embolus can travel to which organs?

• A. Heart, lungs and brain
• B. Kidneys only
• C. Liver only
• D. Skin only

Answer: (A)

An embolus is a piece of material that travels through the bloodstream and can lodge in vessels far from where it originated, causing a blockage and tissue ischemia. It can travel through arterial circulation to organs like the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, and others, or as a venous embolus to the lungs. Because emboli can reach multiple critical sites, the combination of heart, lungs, and brain represents the major organs that can be affected by emboli. The other options are too limited, since emboli are not restricted to just one organ.