What term refers to increased blood flow to a certain area of the body?

The term that refers to increased blood flow to a specific area of the body is hyperemia. This condition occurs when there is an accumulation of blood in the vessels of a particular region, resulting from various physiological processes, such as inflammation, increased metabolic demands, or vascular dilation. Hyperemia can be classified as active, such as during exercise when blood flow enhances oxygen delivery to muscles, or passive, which occurs due to a blockage in venous return, leading to congestion. Understanding hyperemia is crucial in fields like medicine and mortuary science, as it relates to the physiological responses of the body and can also be indicative of various health conditions.

Other terms listed do not describe increased blood flow. For instance, an embolus refers to a blockage in a blood vessel caused by a clot or other material, shock relates to a critical condition where organs are not receiving adequate blood flow, and hydrocephaly refers to an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain's ventricles. These terms highlight different physiological phenomena and do not pertain directly to the concept of localized increased blood flow.