What medical term describes an interrupted supply of blood to the brain, often resulting in a stroke?

The term that describes an interrupted supply of blood to the brain, often resulting in a stroke, is cerebrovascular accident (CVA). This term encompasses both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, which refer to a lack of blood flow due to either a blockage or a rupture of blood vessels in the brain.

In the context of strokes, a CVA signals that normal blood flow is disrupted, which leads to brain cell damage and loss of function in certain areas of the brain. Recognizing CVA is crucial for timely medical intervention, as prompt treatment can significantly improve outcomes for individuals experiencing a stroke.

Other terms provided describe different conditions related to the brain, but they do not encapsulate the concept of an interrupted blood supply as effectively as cerebrovascular accident. For instance, cerebral hemorrhage refers specifically to bleeding within the brain tissue, which is a type of stroke but not synonymous with the broader term for stroke itself. A cerebral aneurysm involves a bulge in a blood vessel in the brain, which can lead to hemorrhagic stroke but is not the interruption of blood flow itself. Cerebral edema indicates swelling of brain tissues due to various causes, including strokes, but does not directly refer to the cause or the event of a stroke.