Glossary of Aneurysm Terms
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm or AAA
- An Aneurysm located on the section of the aorta in the abdomen.
- Adventitia
- The outermost layer of the three layers making up an artery wall.
- Anesthesiologist
- A doctor who specializes in the science of anesthesia and is trained to administer anesthesia.
- Aneurysm
- The abnormal localized bulging or widening of the wall of an artery, or other blood vessel.
- Aneurysm Clip
- A coil-spring device used to treat Aneurysms by clamping the neck of the Aneurysm and isolating it from the parent artery.
- Aneurysmorrhaphy or Aneurysmoplasty
- The surgical suture of the sac of an aneurysm.
- Anterior
- Pertaining to or toward the front plane of the body.
- Aorta
- The largest artery in the body, it begins in the left ventricle of the heart, extends to the abdomen, and branches off into two smaller arteries.
- Aortic valve
- The heart valve between the left ventricle and the aorta. It has three flaps, or cusps.
- Aphasia
- A neurological disorder resulting from injury or disease that creates impairment in the ability to articulate, or comprehend written or spoken language.
- Arachnoid
- The center layer of the three layers of the Meninges that cover the brain and spinal cord.
- Arteriogram or Angiogram
- Also called an angiogram. It is an imagining test that provides detailed pictures of the body's blood vessels by the injection of contrast material so vessels can be visualized on an x-ray image
- Arterio-Venous Malformation or AVM
- An abnormal collection of snarled veins and arteries in the brain or on its surface that bypasses normal brain tissue and diverts blood.
- Artery
- Vessels that carry blood from the heart to the various parts of the body.
- Asymptomatic
- Showing no evidence or symptoms of disease.
- Atherosclerosis
- A form of arteriosclerosis characterized by the deposition of atheromatous plaques containing cholesterol and lipids on the innermost layer of the walls of large and medium-sized arteries.
- Basilar Artery
- One of the arteries that supplies the brain with oxygenated blood.
- Basilar Tip Aneurysm
- An Aneurysm that forms at distal bifurcation of the basilar artery.
- Berry Aneurysm
- A term sometimes used to describe a Brain Aneurysm as they often have the size and appearance of a berry.
- Bifurcations
- The forking or splitting of an artery into two branches or vessels.
- Blood pressure
- The pressure or force of the blood against the arterial walls
- Brain or Cerebral Aneurysm
- An Aneurysm that occurs in an artery of the brain.
- Cardiac
- Of or pertaining to the heart.
- Cardiovascular
- Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.
- Catheter
- A medical device, which is essentially a tube, that can be inserted into the body to allow injection, drainage, or access by surgical instruments.
- Cerebral
- Of or relating to the brain or cerebrum.
- Cerebrovascular
- Of or relating to the brain and the blood vessels that supply it.
- Circle of Willis, The
- The collection of arteries located at the base of the brain. These arteries carry the entire supply of blood to the brain.
- Coiling
- A procedure to insert platinum coils into an Aneurysm thus isolating it from the parent artery.
- Confabulation
- The spontaneous production of false memories. A memory disorder that may occur in patients who have sustained damage to both the basal forebrain and the frontal lobes, as after an aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery.
- Coronary arteries
- Two arteries arising from the aorta. The arteries arch down over the top of the heart, branch and provide blood to the working heart muscle.
- Craniotomy
- A surgical procedure to open the cranium (skull) by removal of a portion of bone (bone flap) in order to provide access to the brain. The bone is replaced at the end of the procedure.
- Craniectomy
- A surgical procedure to open the cranium (skull) by removal of a portion of bone (bone flap) in order to provide access to the brain. Unlike a Craniotomy the bone is not replaced at the end of the procedure.
- Cranium
- The bony dome that houses and protects the brain, generally taken to be the skull minus the mandible (the jaw bone).
- Cyanosis
- Blueness of skin caused by a shortage of oxygen in the blood.
- Diastolic blood pressure
- The pressure of the blood inside the arteries when the heart muscle is relaxed.
- Dissection
- This is a split or tear in one or more layers of an artery wall, allowing bleeding into an along the layers.
- Dura Mater
- The outer most layer of the Meninges.
- Dystonia
- A neurological muscular movement disorder, characterized by sustained muscle contractions that produce repetitive movement, twisting, and abnormal postures. The condition may be hereditary or produced by injury to the brain.
- Embolization
- The blockage of an aneurysm or a blood vessel so blood no longer flows through it.
- Endovascular
- Occurring within blood vessels.
- Fischer Scale
- The Fischer scale is a method of grouping the CT scans of SAH into four groups based on the amount of blood evident and thus it is useful in predicting Vasospasm.
- Fusiform or Fusiform Aneurysm
- Fusiform-having a spindle-like shape that is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends. A Fusiform Aneurysm has no distinct neck but is a generally swelling of both sides of the artery.
- Giant Aneurysm
- Aneurysms that are 2.5 cm (25mm or 0.98 in) or larger in diameter.
- Glasgow Coma Score
- A Neurological scale designed to provide an objective means of assessing and recording the conscious level or state of a person.
- Hemorrhage
- Bleeding
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- A type of stroke caused by a blood vessel rupturing and bleeding into the brain. Also known as a bleeding stroke, this is what happens when an Aneurysm ruptures.
- High Blood Pressure, HBP, or Hypertension
- This is a medical condition in which the force of the blood against the arterial walls is at an abnormally high level. Thought to be one of the leading factors contributing to Aneurysm formation.
- Hunt-Hess Scale
- A grading system used to classify the severity of a SAH based on the patient's clinical condition.
- Hydrocephalus
- A condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain.
- Infarction
- The process of tissue death (necrosis) caused by blockage of the tissue's blood supply.
- Innervate
- To supply an organ or a body part with nerves and also to stimulate a nerve, muscle, or body part to action.
- Intima
- The innermost layer of the three layers making up an artery wall.
- Intracranial
- Within the cranium-the upper bony domed portion of the skull that protects the brain.
- Intracranial pressure (ICP) Monitor
- This is a device, commonly used in patients who have suffered head trauma, cerebral hemorrhage, or have undergone brain surgery, to measure the pressure in and around the brain.
- Lesion
- Any abnormal tissue, generally caused by disease or trauma, found in or on an organism. Physicians often use this term in reference to Aneurysms.
- Ligation
- The surgical tying of a vessel, tissue, wound, etc.
- Ischemic Infarct
- A type of stroke caused by blockage of a vessel supplying oxygen-rich blood to a region of the brain.
- Mass Effect
- Damage to the brain due the bulk of an Aneurysm, tumor, the blockage of fluid, or excess accumulation of fluid within the skull.
- Media
- The middle layer of the three layers making up an artery wall.
- Meninges
- The three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord consisting of the dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater.
- Neurologist
- A physician who specializes in the treatment of neurological disorders.
- Neurosurgeon
- A physician who specializes in surgery of the brain and spine.
- Occlusion
- The blockage of a vessel.
- Peripheral Aneurysm
- This is an Aneurysm that occurs in arteries other than the brain and aorta, commonly they occur in the femoral and carotid arteries.
- Pia Mater
- The innermost layer of the Meninges.
- Plaque
- Fatty deposits of substances in the inner lining of the arterial walls characteristic of atherosclerosis.
- Popliteal Aneurysm
- the most common type of Peripheral Aneurysm, it forms on the Poploteal artery, which supplies blood to the legs.
- Posterior
- Pertaining to or toward the back plane of the body.
- Pulmonary artery
- The large artery that receives blood from the right ventricle and takes it to the lungs.
- Ramify
- To divide or spread out into branches or branchlike parts.
- Resection
- Surgical removal of part of an organ.
- Saccular or Saccular Aneurysm
- Resembling a sac or containing Sac like dilations or pouches. To be Sac like in appearance.
- Seizures
- Temporary electrical event within the brain due to the abnormal synchronization of a group of nerve cells. These events have a variety of symptoms, abnormal movements, behavior, and sensations, altered speech, and memory.
- Shunt
- A device, usually a small flexible tube, that is used to divert excess Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in and around the brain and spinal cord to another location in the body (often the abdominal cavity) where it can be better absorbed.
- Stenosis
- The narrowing or constriction of an opening.
- Stroke
- Any disease process which results in the death of cells in any region of the brain.
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Bleeding into the Subarachnoid space.
- Subarachnoid space
- The space closely surrounding the brain-the area between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater surrounding the brain. .
- Systolic blood pressure
- The pressure of the blood inside the arteries when the heart contracts.
- Third Nerve Palsy
- A condition that results in an inability to move the eye normally in all directions. The disorder is commonly the result of damage to the third cranial often caused by pressure or damage to the nerve from tumors or aneurysm.
- TIA- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Also known as a mini-stroke it is a temporary interruption of the blood supply which does not cause death of brain cells.
- Titanium
- A strong, low-density, highly corrosion-resistant metal alloy. It is this material that modern Aneurysm Clips are made from.
- Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
- An Aneurysm located on the section of the aorta above the diaphragm in the chest.
- Trephination or Trephining
- The surgical opening of the skull with a drill or hole saw type device.
- Ultrasound
- A non-invasive test that used sound waves to produce an imagine of the internal structures of your body.
- Vascular
- Of or pertaining to the blood vessels
- Vasospasm
- An abnormal narrowing of arteries due to irritation by blood in the subarachnoid space. Vasospasm often develops one to two weeks after an aneurysm ruptures.
- Vein
- Vessels that return blood from the various parts of the body back to the heart.
- Visceral Aneurysm
- a type of Peripheral Aneurysm that forms on the arteries feeding the kidneys, intestines or other intra-abdominal organs.
- World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies classification
- A classification system based on the Glasgow Coma Score, and the finding of aphasia or a motor deficit, used to assess the severity of a SAH and the predicated outcome.
Nothing on this website should, in any way be considered medical advice. It is presented as general information only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any type of medical condition. I am not a doctor, nurse, or any other type of medical or health care professional. Nor am I an expert on Aneurysms. However, I am an expert on the experience of having suffered a ruptured Aneurysm and the subsequent treatment I received. This site should not be considered to be, nor is it intended to be, a definitive source of information regarding Aneurysms. I have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of any information presented here, but again, I am not a medical professional and my own interpretation of this information could be in error.