Terms for Stroke

Cerebrovascular Accident

(CVA) This is the medical term for a stroke; This is an acute event caused by pathology to the cerebrovascular system that causes an interruption in blood flow to fa ocal area of the brain.

Ischemic CVA

Interruption in blood flow through a cerebrovascular blood vessel caused by a blocked blood vessel; thrombotic and embolic

Hemorrhagic CVA

Interruption in blood flow through a cerebrovascular blood vessel caused by the rupture of an aneurysm, tear in the blood vessel, or rupture of AV malformation

Aneurysm

the ballooning out of a blood vessel wall that can fill with blood; may or may not rupture

Thrombotic Ischemic CVA

interruption in blood flow caused by plaque build up in a cerebrovascular blood vessel or the formation of a blood clot on site in the brain that blocks the blood vessel.

Embolic Ischemic CVA

interruption in blood flow caused when a blood clot forms somewhere in the body, typically in the heart, and travels into the cerebrovascular system until it gets caught up in a vessel that is too narrow for it to pass, blocking the flow of blood.

Transient Ischemic Attack

(TIA) This is an acute event caused by temporary interruption in blood flow within the cerebrovascular system.

Cerebrovascular system

the network of blood vessels that supply blood to the brain

AV malformation in the brain

congenital structural abnormality in the capillary bed that exists between the artery and venous circulation in the brain. These areas are prone to rupture/hemorrhage

Atherosclerosis

plaque build up in arteries; LDL cholesterol and triglycerides invade the artery wall