Death of brain tissue due to interruption of blood flow is called what?

• A. Myocardial infarction
• B. Transient ischemic attack
• C. Stroke
• D. Aneurysm

Answer: (C)

The concept here is recognizing the medical term for brain tissue death due to a loss of blood flow. When a brain region is deprived of oxygen and nutrients because a blood vessel is blocked or ruptured, the brain cells in that area die, and this condition is called a stroke. A stroke can be ischemic, caused by a clot that blocks a cerebral artery, or hemorrhagic, caused by bleeding from a damaged vessel; both result in brain tissue injury. A transient ischemic attack is similar in mechanism but does not cause lasting brain damage, so it’s not the term for tissue death. Myocardial infarction refers to death of heart tissue from a blocked coronary artery, not brain tissue. An aneurysm is a weakened area in a vessel wall that can rupture, leading to bleeding but not specifically the death of brain tissue from halted blood flow.