Which term describes a blood clot formed at the site of an atherosclerotic plaque?

The term that describes a blood clot formed at the site of an atherosclerotic plaque is "thrombus." When atherosclerosis occurs, fatty deposits build up in the arteries, potentially forming plaques that can rupture. When this happens, the body's natural response is to form a clot at the site of the rupture to stop any bleeding and seal the area. This clot is specifically termed a thrombus, as it is attached to the site where it formed.

In contrast, an embolus refers to a clot that has broken loose and travels through the bloodstream to another location, while a coagulum is a more general term for any mass formed by the coagulation of blood, not necessarily confined to a specific site like a thrombus. Hemorrhage, on the other hand, refers to bleeding, which is the opposite of what occurs when a thrombus is formed. Therefore, "thrombus" accurately describes the situation where a clot forms directly in response to an atherosclerotic plaque.