stroke

stroke

n. disruption of blood flow to the brain, which deprives the tissue of oxygen and nutrients, causing tissue damage and loss of normal function and, potentially, tissue death. A stroke may result from a hemorrhage of a blood vessel in the brain (see hemorrhagic stroke) or an embolism or thrombus blocking an artery in the brain (see embolic stroke; thrombotic stroke). This term is often used interchangeably with cerebrovascular accident. See also cerebral infarction; cerebrovascular disease; lacunar stroke; transient ischemic attack.