Tuesday, September 07, 2010


Glossary of Terms 

 
Below are terms and definitions that are commonly used in the discussion of aneurysms and medical treatment of them. 



Aneurysm: An abnormal outward bulge in a blood vessel wall.
Artery: A vessel that carries blood from the heart to tissues of the body.
Catheter: A thin, flexible tube that allows contrast solution to be injected into it to visualize vessels on an x-ray image.
Cerebellum: A large dorsally projecting part of the brain concerned especially with the coordination of muscles and the maintenance of bodily equilibrium.
Cerebral Edema: Swelling of the brain.
Cerebral Angiography: A radiology procedure using x-ray and opaque dye that helps identify abnormalities of the blood vessels within the brain.
Cerebrum: The cerebrum comprises the largest section of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres (right and left). Each hemisphere is further divided into four lobes: frontal, occipital, parietal and temporal.
Contrast: A solution of iodine salts and water that is injected into blood vessels so that they may be visualized on X-ray.
Cranium: Also known as the skull; the bone that encloses the brain.
Embolics: Materials and agents that can be permanent or temporary, solid or liquid, suspendable particles versus discrete large single objects. Used to abstract or occlude a structure or vessel.
Embolism: Obstruction of a blood vessel by foreign substances or a blood clot.
Embolus: Traveling foreign substance or a blood clot.
Embolization: Blockage of a blood vessel so blood can no longer flow through it.
Endovascular: Occurring inside blood vessels.
Endovascular Coiling procedure: Treatment of an aneurysm using tiny coils and working within the blood vessel.
Hemorrhage: Bleeding, often times as a result of a problem with a blood vessel.
Hypophysis: Another term for the pituitary gland.
Hypoxia: Insufficient supply of oxygen rich blood.
Infarct: An area of necrosis resulting from a sudden insufficiency of arterial or venous blood supply.
Interventional Neuroradiology: Use of guiding devices in the vascular pathways of the brain and spinal cord to provide or deliver therapeutic treatment to the brain.
Necrosis: Pathologic death of one or more cells of a portion of tissue or organ.
Occlusion: Blockage of a vessel.
Sheath: A short, hollow tube placed in the femoral artery located at your groin and sewn in place, allowing easy entry into the artery for catheters and guide wires.
Stenosis: A narrowing of the blood vessel.
Stroke: Disease process that results in the death of cells in any area of the brain.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Bleeding in the space between the tissues covering the brain and the arachnoid.
Thrombus: A blood clot that adheres to the vessel wall.
Vasospasm: Narrowing of the vessel, typically in response to the initial rupture of the aneurysm.
Privacy Statement  |  Terms Of Use  |  For Suppliers
Copyright (c) 2010 Microvention