noun
perfusion
per-FYOO-zhun
Perfusion (noun) means the flow of blood through the vessels of an organ or tissue, delivering oxygen and nutrients to it. Example: “Cold, pale fingers can be a sign of poor peripheral perfusion.”
noun
1
The flow of blood through the vessels of an organ or tissue, delivering oxygen and nutrients to it.
"Cold, pale fingers can be a sign of poor peripheral perfusion."
"The scan measures perfusion in the heart muscle during exercise."
2
medical The deliberate pumping of blood or another fluid through an organ or the whole body by machine, as during heart surgery.
"A perfusionist manages the bypass machine and monitors perfusion throughout the operation."
How to use perfusion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBlood reaching the tissues that need it.
When to use it
Medical and physiological. In nursing notes it often appears in phrases like 'well perfused'.
Memory tip
Do not confuse perfusion with profusion, which means a large amount. The related adjective is perfused.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tissue perfusion
cerebral perfusion
poor perfusion
perfusion pressure
ventilation-perfusion
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Cold, pale fingers can be a sign of poor peripheral _____.
Etymology
From Latin perfusio, from perfundere meaning 'to pour over', from per 'through' and fundere 'to pour'.
Synonyms
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blood flow
circulation
Antonyms
ischaemia
Related words
Rhymes for perfusion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
selection
titration
See all rhymes for perfusion →
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between perfusion and diffusion?
Perfusion is the bulk flow of blood delivering supplies to a tissue. Diffusion is the movement of individual molecules such as oxygen across a membrane once the blood has arrived. Perfusion gets the delivery lorry to the door; diffusion unloads it.
What causes poor perfusion?
Anything that lowers blood flow or pressure, including shock, heart failure, blood loss, blocked or narrowed arteries, severe dehydration and extreme cold. Signs include pale or mottled skin, cold extremities, slow capillary refill and confusion.
What is a ventilation-perfusion mismatch?
It is when air reaching the lungs and blood flowing past the lungs do not line up: some areas get air but no blood, or blood but no air. A pulmonary embolism is the classic cause and the result is low blood oxygen despite normal breathing effort.
What is the meaning of perfusion?
"perfusion" (noun) means the flow of blood through the vessels of an organ or tissue, delivering oxygen and nutrients to it.
