Included in this section is a complete glossary of terms that you may see or hear when reading this website or when viewing any of our stroke recovery and prevention DVDs.

 

 

acute stroke – a stage of stroke starting at the onset of symptoms that lasts for a few hours thereafter

 

agnosia – impairment of ability to recognize, or comprehend the meaning of, various sensory stimuli (e.g. finger, color, visual, tactile, position, visual-spatial agnosia)

 

agraphia – inability to write

 

alexia – inability to read

 

aneurysm – a weak spot in the artery wall that balloons out

 

aneurysm clipping – a surgical procedure for treatment of brain aneurysms, involving clamping an aneurysm from a blood vessel

 

angiography – an x–ray of vessels after the injection of a radiopaque contrast material

 

anosognosia – the lack of awareness or denial of disease (e.g. the patient denies anything being wrong with the stroke side)

 

anticoagulants – drugs used to prevent the formation or growth of blood clots by inhibiting the coagulation actions of the blood protein thrombin; some common anticoagulants include heparin and warfarin

 

antiplatelet agents – drugs used to prevent the formation or growth of blood clots by inhibiting the accumulation of platelets; some common antiplatelet agents include aspirin, plavix, aggrenox

 

antithrombotics – a generic term related to either anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents

 

aphasia – inability to understand or create speech

 

apoplexy – an old Latin term for stroke defined as “a stroke of God’s hands”

 

apoptosis – a form of programmed, genetically triggered cell death involving shrinking of the cell and eventual disposal of the internal elements of the cell by the body’s immune system

 

apraxia – inability to perform skilled or purposeful voluntary movement even though the person is physically able to do it

 

arrhythmia – an irregular heart beat

 

arteriography – an x-ray of arteriesafter the injection of a radiopaque contrast material

 

arteriovenous malformation (AVM) – a congenital disorder characterized by a complex tangled web of arteries and veins

 

artery – a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart

 

aspiration – the act of inhaling solid or liquid materials into the lungs

 

aspiration pneumonia – chest infection (pneumonia)resulting from the inhalation of foreign material, usually food particles or vomit, into the bronchi; pneumonia developing secondary to the presence in the airways of fluid, blood, saliva, or gastric contents

 

asteriognosis – inability to identify an object by touch

 

ataxia – lack of coordination, unsteadiness

 

atheroma – fatty cholesterol deposits inside of artery walls (synonym – plaque)

 

atherosclerosis – a disease of arteries characterised by deposits of lipid material which make the artery hard, thick (narrow) and brittle (atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are often used interchangeably)

 

atrial fibrillation – irregular beating of the left atrium, or left upper chamber, of the heart

 

bilateral – both sides of the body

 

blood-brain barrier –an elaborate meshwork that surrounds blood vessels and capillaries in the brain and regulates which elements of the blood can pass through to the neurons

 

brainstem – the stem-like, lower part of the brain that connects the brain’s right and left hemispheres with the spinal cord

 

brainstem stroke – a stroke thatthat strikesthe brainstem

 

capillaries – tiny blood vessels whose wall consists of endothelium and its basement membrane

 

cardiac – relating to the heart

 

cardiovascular – relating to the heart and blood vessels

 

caregivers – individuals (typically family members or friends) who provide unpaid assistance to see that the physical, psychological, and/or social needs of another person are met

 

carotid artery – an artery, located on either side of the neck, that carries blood to the brain

 

carotid endarterectomy – the operation to remove atheroma from the narrowed carotid artery (usually the internal carotid artery)

 

carotid stenosis – narrowing of the carotid artery

 

catheter – a medical device (tube) used to control urinary incontinence using a receptacle bag

 

central pain – pain caused by damage to an area in the mid-brain called thalamus

 

cerebellar stroke – a stroke that strikes the cerebellum

 

cerebellum – the part of the brain at the back which is responsible for coordinating voluntary muscle movements

 

cerebral – relating to the brain

 

cerebral blood flow (CBF) – the flow of blood through the arteries that lead to the brain

 

cerebral cortex – the outer layer of the brain

 

cerebral infarct – an area where brain cells have died (synonym – ischaemic stroke)

 

cerebral haemorrhage – bleeding into the brain tissue (intracerebral haemorrhage) or into surrounding areas (subarachnoid haemorrhage)

 

cerebral oedema – swelling of the brain

 

cerebral hemisphere – one of the two halves of the brain

 

cerebral thrombosis – the closing off of an artery in the brain by blood clotting

 

cerebrovascular accident(CVA) – an old term used for stroke (the term is falling into disuse because stroke is no longer viewed as an accident)

 

cerebrovascular disease (CVD) – encompasses all abnormalities in the brain resulting from pathologies of its blood vessels (narrowing, blockage)

 

cholesterol – a waxy substance, produced naturally by the liver and also found in foods, that circulates in the blood

 

cognition – higher intellectual (mental) functioningassociated with thinking, learning, perception, and memory

 

cognitive impairment – a deficiency in a person’s short or long term memory, orientation as to place, person and time, thinking and judgment

 

coma – a state of deep unconsciousness when the person is not responsive or able to be aroused

 

compensation – the ability of a person with impairments from stroke to perform a task (or tasks) either using the impaired limb with an adapted approach or using the unaffected limb to perform the task

 

confabulation – filling gaps in memory with imagined events

 

continence – the ability to control urinary bladder and bowel functions

 

contracture – static muscle shortening so that the muscle cannot be lengthened and loss of motion of the adjacent joint occurs

 

contralateral – the opposite side of the body

 

coordination- the harmonious working together of several muscles or muscle groups in the execution of complex movements

 

computed tomography (CT) scan – a series of cross-sectional x-rays of the brain and head; also called computerized axial tomography (CAT)

 

dementia – loss of intellectual ability (e.g. vocabulary, abstract thinking, judgment, memory loss, physical coordination) that interfere with daily activities

 

depression – a reversible psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, difficulty sleeping, feeling of hopelessness, fatigue, the “blues”, and guilt

 

diplopia – double vision

 

duplex carotid scan – an ultrasound scan of the carotid arteries in the neck

 

dysarthria – a motor disorder of the tongue, mouth, jaw or voice-box resulting in difficulty in producing speech

 

dyslipidaemia – abnormality in blood lipids

 

dyslexia – difficulty with reading

 

dysphagia – inability or difficulty with swallowing

 

dysphasia – difficulty withunderstanding or creating speech

 

dysphonia – impairment of the voice

 

dyspraxia – difficulty with performing skilled or purposeful voluntary movement even though the person is physically able to do it

 

echocardiogram – ultrasound scan of the heart

 

electrocardiogram (ECG) – a test that measures electric activity and rhythm of the heart

 

electroencephalogram (EEG) – a test used to record electrical activity in the brain by placing electrodes on the scalp

 

embolic stroke – a stroke caused by an embolus

 

embolism – blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus

 

embolus – a clot of the blood that travels in the bloodstream

 

emotional lability – a condition in which the mood of the person swings rapidly (unreasonably) from one state to another (such as laughing, crying or anger)

 

enteral feeding – feeding using a tube connecting with the stomach

 

epidemiology – the study of factors that influences the frequency and distribution of a disease in a population

 

epilepsy – seizure or fit activity involving parts of or the whole body

 

extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass – a type of surgery that restores blood flow to a blood-deprived area of brain tissue by rerouting a healthy artery in the scalp to the area of brain tissue affected by a blocked/narrowed artery

 

flaccid – absence of muscle tone, flabby or floppy muscles

 

gait – manner of walking

 

geriatrician – a doctor who specializes in the care of the older people, primarily those who are frail and have complex medical and social problems

 

glia – supportive cells of the nervous system that also play an important role in brain functioning; also called neuroglia

 

haematoma – a collection of blood forming a definite swelling which compresses and damages the brain around it

 

haemorrhage – bleeding

 

haemorrhagic – relating to bleeding

 

haemorrhagic stroke – bleeding into the brain (intracerebral haemorrhage) or into surrounding areas (subarachnoid haemorrhage)

 

handicap – reduction in a person's capacity to fulfill a social role as a consequence of disability/impairment

 

hemianaesthesia – loss of sensation down one side of the body

 

hemianopia – loss of half the field of vision in each eye

 

hemiparesis – weakness on one side of the body

 

hemiplegia – complete loss of movements on one side of the body

 

hemisphere – one half of the brain (synonym – cerebral hemisphere)

 

hemispheric stroke – a strokethat strikesone of the brain’s hemisphere

 

hemi-inattention – ignoring space on the side of the body; sometimes called unilateral neglect

 

heparin – a type of anticoagulant

 

high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) – a compound consisting of a lipid and a protein that carries cholesterol in the blood and deposits it in the liver; also known as the “good” cholesterol

 

home care – provides a range of supportive services in the home from intensive medical support to assistance with activities of daily living to housekeeping

 

homeostasis – a state of equilibrium or balance in the body with respect to various functions and to the chemical compositions of the fluids and tissues

 

hypertension – abnormally high blood pressure

 

hypotension – abnormally low blood pressure

 

impairment – a physical or mental defect at the level of a body system or organ

 

impotence – inability to obtain or maintain penile erection

 

incidence – describes the frequency with which cases of a disease occur during a certain period of time in a population

 

incontinence – inabilityto control urinary bladder (urinary incontinence) or bowel functions (bowel incontinence), or both

 

infarct or infarction – area of dead or dying tissue 

 

intracerebral haemorrhage – bleeding into the brain

 

intravenous – in a vein

 

involuntary – ones that happen without being willed or intended

 

ischaemia – a loss or reduction of blood flow to tissue

 

ischaemic cascade – a series of pathophysiological and biochemical events lasting for several hours to several days following initial ischaemia

 

ischaemic penumbra – area of damaged, but still living, brain cells arranged in a patchwork pattern around areas of dead brain cells

 

ischaemic stroke- an area where brain cells have died (synonyms – cerebral infarct, cerebral infarction)

 

lacunar infarction – a small area of dead brain often caused by stenosis or occlusion of the small arteries in the brain (from the French word “lacune” meaning “gap” or “cavity”)

 

large artery disease – stenosis or occlusion of the carotid arteries, often due to atherosclerosis

 

lipoprotein – small globules of cholesterol covered by a layer of protein

 

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) – a compound consisting of a lipid and a protein that carries cholesterol in the blood and deposits the excess along the inside of arterial walls; also known as the “bad” cholesterol

 

magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) – an imaging technique involving injection ofa radiopaque contrast material into a blood vessel and using magnetic resonance technique to create an image of brain arteries and veins

 

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan – a type of brain imaging involving the use ofa powerful magnetic field to generate and measure interactions between pulsed magnetic waves and hydrogen nuclei (such as those in water) within the head tissues

 

monoparesis, monoplegia – weakness, paralysis of one limb only

 

mortality – describes the number of persons who die during a certain period of time

 

motor – relating to movement

 

nasogastric tube – tube put down the nose into the stomach

 

neuron – the main functional cell of the brain and nervous system, consisting of a cell body, an axon, and dendrites

 

neuroprotectiveagents – medications that protect the brain from secondary injury

 

neglect, one-sided – a term sometimes used for lack of awareness to one side

 

nursing home – a generic term for a skilled nursing facility

 

oedema – swelling

 

orthosis- an external orthopaedic appliance, as a brace or splint, that prevents or assists movement of the spine or the limbs

 

papilloedema – swelling of the optic disc in the eye

 

paraesthesia- an abnormal sensation, such as of burning, pricking, tickling, or tingling

 

paralysis – loss of movement

 

paraparesis, paraplegia – weakness, paralysis of both legs (can happen with bilateral strokes or spinal cord problems)

 

paraphrasia – producing unintended phrases, words or syllables during speech

 

paresis – muscle weakness

 

PEG tube – percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding tube inserted through the abdominal wall into the stomach

 

perception – the ability to receive, interpret and use information

 

plague – a mixture of fatty substances, including cholesterol and other lipids, deposited inside of artery walls (synonym – atheroma)

 

plasticity of the brain – the ability to adapt to deficits and injury when intact brain cells take over functions of damaged cells

 

platelets – blood cells that are known for their role in blood coagulation

 

prevalence – the number of cases of a disease in a population at any given point in time

 

randomised controlled trial – a clinical study in which persons are assigned to the experimental or control group by a random selection procedure

 

recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) – a genetically engineered form of t-PA, a thrombolytic, anti-clotting substance made naturally by the body

 

rehabilitation – restoration of the disabled person to the greatest possible independence

 

rest home – a generic term for a group home, specialised apartment complex or other institution which provides care services where individuals live; sometimes referred to as a private hospital, residential care facility or a care home

 

small artery disease-  a disease of small arteries in the brain, often due to hypertension

 

stenosis – narrowing

 

spasm – involuntary contraction of a muscle

 

spastic paralysis – paralysis withincreased muscle tone and spasmodic contraction of the muscles

 

spasticity – abnormally increased tone in a muscle

 

spinal cord- the elongated cylindrical portion of the cerebrospinal axis, or central nervous system, which is contained in the spinal or vertebral canal

 

stroke – an acute vascular injury of the brain

 

stroke unit – a hospital facility for management of patients with acute stroke by a multidisciplinary team of specialists

 

subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) – bleeding between the brain surface and one of the thin layers of tissue that cover the brain

 

tactile – relating to touch

 

thrombolytics – drugs that dissolve the blood clot

 

thrombosis – the formation of a blood clot

 

thromboembolus – a clot which has traveled in an artery or vein

 

thrombus – a blood clot

 

thrombotic stroke – a stroke caused by thrombosis

 

tinnitus – “ringing” in the ears

 

tone – the degree of tension in a muscle at rest

 

total serum cholesterol – a combined measurement of a person’s high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

 

t-PA – see “recombinant tissue plasminogen activator”

 

transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – a short-lived stroke that lasts from a few minutes up to 24 hours; often called a mini-stroke

 

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) – a small magnetic current delivered to an area of the brain to promote plasticity and healing

 

vascular – relating to the blood vessels

 

vasospasm – spasm of a blood vessel; a dangerous side effect of subarachnoid haemorrhage

 

vein – a blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart

 

vertebrobasilar arteries – the two arteries on the back of the neck which supply blood to the brainstem and cerebellum

 

vertebral artery – an artery on either side of the back of the neck within the bones of the spine and carrying blood to the brain

 

videofluoroscopy – a video x-ray of swallowing mechanism

 

visuospatial disorder – inability to recognize or perceive time, distance, areas of space

 

whanau – the extended family