Stroke
Term Definition
Aneurysm An abnormal blood-filled
dilation of a vessel
resulting from a
weakened/diseased
vessel wall.
Anoxia A condition in which there
is an absence of oxygen
supply to an organ’s
tissues even though there
is adequate blood flow to
the tissue.
Agenesis The failure of a body part
to develop completely or
properly.
Anarthria The partial or total loss of
speech resulting from
lesions of the central
nervous system.
Anosognosia The inability to recognize
the reality of the physical
impairments resulting
from stroke.
Bulbar Paralysis The weakness of muscles
necessary for speech,
swallowing and movement
of lips and tongue. It is
caused by damage to the
lower cranial
nerves/bulbar nerves.
Cheyne-Stokes An abnormal pattern of
Respirations breathing that alternates
between a gradual
increase in depth and rate
of respiration to a
maximum and then a
decrease in depth and
rate of respiration
resulting in apnea.
Choreoathetosis A condition characterized
Source
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http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/
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http://dictionary.webmd.com/terms/cheyne-stokes-
respiration
Children’s Hospital Boston. (2007). Cerebral Palsy
 by an extreme range of
motion, changeable
muscle tone and
unpredictable movements
of the limbs.
Dysesthesias An unpleasant, abnormal
sensation, whether
spontaneous or evoked:
Tactile Hallucination.
Dystonia A state of disordered
tonicity of tissues.
Dysarthrial A condition generally
Clumsy Hand caused by an infarct in the
Syndrome pons. It is characterized
by subtle unilateral hand
weakness and severe
dysarthria.
Endocarditis An inflammation of the
lining of the heart and its
valves.
Embolism Occurs when bits of
matter formed elsewhere
in the body migrate and
become lodged in a
vessel resulting in an
occlusion.
Hematocrits The proportion, by
volume, of the blood that
contains red blood cells.
Hemiballismus Violent uncontrollable
movements on one half of
the body. This results
from a lesion in the
subthalamic nucleus on
the contralateral/opposite
side of the body.
Limb-Kinetic The inability to make
Apraxia precise movements with
the limb, especially the
fingers contralateral to the
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http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Si
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miballismus
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from eMedicine:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1136037-
 affected part of the brain.
Sometimes referred to as
“clumsy hand”.
Miosis The excessive constriction
of the pupil often caused
by bright lights or certain
types of eye drops.
overview
DSR Medical & Nursing Services. (2005).
Occupational Health Services Dictionary.
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Health Services: http://www.occupational-health-
services.co.uk/about.htm

Necrosis The death of living cells or eMedicineHealth. (2008). Crohn’s Disease in

tissues, resulting from Children and Teens Glossary of Medical Terms.
injury or disease. Retrieved May 31, 2010, from eMedicine Health:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/crohn_disease_i
n_children_and_teens/glossary_em.htm#top
Papilledema A condition characterized Aetna InteliHealth Inc. (2009, August 6). Optic
by the swelling of the optic Nerve Swelling (Papilledema). Retrieved May 31,
nerve due to elevated 2010, from InteliHealth:
intracranial pressure. http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?
t=9950&p=~br,IHW|~st,24479|~r,WSIHW000|~b,*|
Prosopagnosia A neurological disorder National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
characterized by the Stroke. (2007, February 14). NINDS
inability to recognize Prosopagnosia Information Page. Retrieved May
faces. 31, 2010, from NINDS:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/prosopagnosia/
Prosopagnosia.htm
Ptosis The drooping of eyelids Child Neurology Associates, P.C. (2004).
due to weakness of the Glossary-Look Up Some Medical Terms.
muscles responsible for Retrieved June 1, 2010, from Child Neurology
keeping the lids open. Associates, P.C.:
http://www.childneuro.org/html/glossary.html
Subclavian Steal A condition that results Pollard, P., Rigby, S., Moritz, G., & Lau, C. (1998).
Syndrome from the occlusion of the Subclavian Steal Syndrome. Australasian
subclavian artery, Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 20-28.
proximal to the origin of
the vertebral artery.
The blockage causes the
reversal of blood flow in
the vertebral artery. This
is termed the “steal”,
because it steals blood
from the cerebral
circulation.