Fat embolus, brain, gross
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In trauma involving the long bones or the pelvis, a fracture may liberate marrow fat or bone marrow, which enters the circulatory system. Fat emboli entering the venous side end up in the lung, where they can cause the adult respiratory distress syndrome. Fat emboli can also get into the arterial circulation and enter the brain, where they cause petechial hemorrhages and neurologic dysfunction. This is a closer view of the white matter hemorrhages from previous slide.