What is a scientific term for a stroke?

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A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function caused by an interruption in blood flow to a region of the brain. The scientific term for this event is cerebrovascular accident, or CVA, which directly points to the involvement of brain blood vessels and the abrupt disruption of supply. Stroke can be ischemic, from a blocked vessel, or hemorrhagic, from a ruptured vessel, but both lead to brain tissue injury. The other terms describe different conditions: a heart attack is a myocardial infarction due to blocked coronary blood flow; a transient ischemic attack is a temporary blockage with symptoms that resolve and typically no lasting damage; a pulmonary embolism is a clot in the lungs’ arteries.