What is the meaning of the term pulmonary embolism?

Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, usually caused by a blood clot that travels from the deep veins of the legs. Pulmonary comes from pulmo meaning lung, and embolism means obstruction by a traveling clot or other material. Symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with breathing, rapid heart rate, cough possibly with bloody sputum, and anxiety. Large pulmonary emboli can be immediately life-threatening by blocking blood flow through the lungs.