Glossary of Stroke Terms

This page provides a glossary of stroke terms. It can be difficult to understand the various brain and medical terms. The most common ones are listed here in alphabetical order with a short definition.

Stroke Term	Definition
Anastomose	The verb associated with anastomosis. This is the connecting of the blood vessels to form the network.
Anastomosis	The connection of blood vessels (veins and arteries) to form a network. It is particularly relevant when the usual route is blocked or obstructed.
Aphasia	A language disorder arising from brain injury where there is an impairment in a person's use of and understanding of language. This is separate from their capability for speech.
Apraxia	A speech problem where a person inconsistently pronounces a word.
Brain Mapping	A neuroscience technique for representing, analyzing, visualizing and interpreting brain activity
Brain Plasticity	The ability of the brain to reorganize its neural pathways (also called neuroplasticity)
Dysarthria	A speech problem where a person speaks slowly, slurs their words or is difficult or impossible to understand. This occurs when the part of the brain controlling the muscles that facilitate speech is affected by the stroke.
Dysphagia	A difficulty in swallowing caused when the part of the brain controlling the muscles that facilitate swallowing is affected by the stroke.
Neurogenesis	The birth of new neuronal cells
Neuroplasticity	See brain plasticity
Proprioceptor	A receptor located in subcutaneous tissues (i.e. muscles, tendons, joints, etc) that responds to stimuli produced within the body
Somatotopic	An adjective describing the way that a particular body part (e.g. finger, foot, tongue) relates to a corresponding motor area of the brain
Somatic	Of the body
Synapse	The small junction across which a nerve impulse passes from one nerve cell to another nerve cell, a muscle cell or a gland cell