Stroke Related Medical Terms

Below are some medical terms you may have heard. If you would like to add a word to the Glossary please go to the Add Word page.

  
AngiographyAngiography is a test that uses an injection of a liquid dye to make the arteries easily visible on X-rays
AtaxiaLoss of the control of muscle function
AtheromaFatty deposits that build up inside an artery
Atrial FibrillationHeart condition in which the upper left side of the heart beats out of rhythm with the other three chambers. It increases the risk of a blood clot forming inside the heart, which can travel to the brain and cause a TIA or stroke
AVM (Arterio-venous malformation)Localised defects of the circulatory system, taking the form of tangled arteries and veins, that are generally believed to arise before or soon after birth. In most cases there are no serious symptoms, but a small proportion lead to headaches, seizures and even haemorrhage.
Berry AneurysmA bulge in the wall of an artery that is a weak
Broca's aphasiaBroca's aphasia, also known as non-fluent aphasia, is where a person has great difficulty speaking and can only manage to string a small number of words together in short, halting sentences. However, it is usually possible to understand the meaning of their speech.
Bruit- (Brewee)The noise that can be heard when listening to a partially blocked blood vessel with a stethoscope
Carotid EndarterectomyAn operation performed to clear the inside of the Carotid artery
CerebellumThe cerebellum is involved in the coordination of voluntary motor movement, balance and equilibrium and muscle tone
Cerebral AngiogramA scan showing blood vessels in the brain
CerebrumThe main part of the brain, it is divided into left and right hemispheres
CSF- Cerebrospinal fluidA watery fluid surrounding the brain
CT Scan- Computerised Tomography ScanA type of X-ray
DVT- (Deep Vein Thrombosis)A clot of blood in the veins, usually of the leg
DysarthriaSpeech disorder in which the pronunciation is unclear
DysphagiaDysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing
DysphasiaAphasia is a communication disability which occurs when the communication centres of the brain are damaged. It is usually caused by stroke, but can also be caused by brain haemorrhage, head injury or tumours. Aphasia is sometimes known as dysphasia. They both mean the same thing
GaitThe characteristics of walking particular to an individual
Global aphasiaGlobal aphasia is the most severe form of aphasia. Someone with the condition has difficulty with all forms of communication, including speaking, reading, writing, correctly naming objects or people and understanding other people’s speech.
HemiplegiaComplete paralysis of half of the body
Hughes Syndrome(also known as Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome). Sometimes called 'sticky blood syndrome', because people with it have an increased tendency to form clots in blood vessels
HydrocephalusRaised pressure within the skull due to an abnormal build-up of the fluid that surrounds the brain. It can occur after a brain haemorrhage. May be treated by the surgical placement of a shunt system
InfarctionAn area of cell death (e.g. part of the brain)
Lacunar StrokeA small stroke less than about one centimetre in diameter
12