Aneurysm

aneurysm

 [an´u-rizm]

a sac formed by the localized dilatation of the wall of an artery, a vein, or the heart.

 Classification of aneurysms. All three tunica layers are involved in true aneurysms (fusiform and saccular). In false aneurysms, blood escapes between tunica layers and they separate. If the separation continues, a clot may form, resulting in a dissecting aneurysm. From Copstead and Banasik, 2000.

adj., adj aneurys´mal. The chief signs of an arterial aneurysm are the formation of a pulsating tumor, and often a bruit (aneurysmal bruit) heard over the swelling. Sometimes there are symptoms from pressure on contiguous parts.

The most common site for an arterial aneurysm is the abdominal aorta. A true aneurysm results from formation of a sac by the arterial wall with at least one unbroken layer. It is most often associated with atherosclerosis. A false aneurysm usually is caused by trauma. In this case, the wall of the blood vessel is ruptured and blood escapes into surrounding tissues and forms a clot. Because of pressure within the clot arising from the heart's contractions, the clot often pulsates against the examiner's hand as does a true aneurysm.

Although atherosclerosis is responsible for most arterial aneurysms, any injury to the middle or muscular layer of the arterial wall (tunica media) can predispose the vessel to stretching of the inner and outer layers of the artery and the formation of a sac. Other diseases that can lead to an aneurysm include syphilis, cystic medionecrosis, certain nonspecific inflammations, and congenital defects in the artery.

It is possible for a person to be unaware of a small aneurysm for years. About 80 per cent of all abdominal aneurysms are palpable and may be noticed on a routine physical examination. One should be particularly alert to the possibility of an aneurysm in persons with a history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or peripheral vascular disease.

Aneurysms tend to increase in size, presenting a problem of increasing pressure against adjacent tissues and organs and a danger of rupture. When an aneurysm ruptures, a critical situation ensues. The patient with a ruptured aortic aneurysm exhibits severe pain and blood loss, leading to shock. A ruptured cerebral aneurysm produces neurologic symptoms and can resemble the clinical picture of stroke syndrome.

Treatment of aneurysm depends on the vessel involved, size of the aneurysm, and general health status of the patient.

arteriosclerotic aneurysm an aneurysm arising in a large artery, most commonly the abdominal aorta, as a result of weakening of the wall in severe atherosclerosis; called also atherosclerotic aneurysm.

arteriovenous aneurysm an abnormal communication between an artery and a vein in which the blood flows directly into a neighboring vein or is carried into the vein by a connecting sac.

atherosclerotic aneurysm arteriosclerotic aneurysm.

bacterial aneurysm an infected aneurysm caused by bacteria.

berry aneurysm (brain aneurysm) a small saccular aneurysm of a cerebral artery, usually at the junction of vessels in the circle of Willis; such aneurysms frequently rupture, causing subarachnoid hemorrhage. Called also cerebral aneurysm.

cardiac aneurysm thinning and dilatation of a portion of the wall of the left ventricle, usually a consequence of myocardial infarction.

cerebral aneurysm berry aneurysm.

cirsoid aneurysm dilatation and tortuous lengthening of part of an artery; called also racemose aneurysm.

compound aneurysm one in which some of the layers of the wall of the vessel are ruptured and some merely dilated; called also mixed aneurysm.

dissecting aneurysm one resulting from hemorrhage that causes lengthwise splitting of the arterial wall, producing a tear in the inner wall (intima) and establishing communication with the lumen of the vessel. It usually affects the thoracic aorta (see aortic dissection) but can also occur in other large arteries. See illustration.

false aneurysm

one in which the entire wall is injured and the blood is contained by the surrounding tissues, with eventual formation of a sac communicating with the artery (or heart). See illustration.

pseudoaneurysm.

fusiform aneurysm a spindle-shaped aneurysm; see illustration.

infected aneurysm one produced by growth of microorganisms (bacteria or fungi) in the vessel wall, or infection arising within a preexisting arteriosclerotic aneurysm.

mixed aneurysm compound aneurysm.

mycotic aneurysm an infected aneurysm caused by fungi.

racemose aneurysm cirsoid aneurysm.

saccular aneurysm (sacculated aneurysm) a saclike aneurysm; see illustration.

spurious aneurysm

false aneurysm (def. 1).

pseudoaneurysm.

varicose aneurysm one formed by rupture of an aneurysm into a vein.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

an·eu·rysm

(an'yū-rizm), Avoid the misspelling aneurism.

Circumscribed dilation of an artery or a cardiac chamber, in direct communication with the lumen, usually resulting from an acquired or congenital weakness of the wall of the artery or chamber.

[G. aneurysma (-mat-), a dilation, fr. eurys, wide]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

aneurysm

also

aneurism

(ăn′yə-rĭz′əm)

n.

An abnormal, blood-filled sac formed by dilation of the wall of a blood vessel or heart ventricle, most commonly the abdominal aorta and intracranial arteries, resulting from disease or trauma to the wall, as in atherosclerosis.

---

an′eu·rys′mal (-məl) adj.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

aneurysm

A lesion characterised by a weakness in the wall of an artery, vein, or cardiac ventricle, resulting in blood-filled dilation or ballooning, or splitting of the wall.
 
Clinical findings
Pulsating mass, bruit (aneurysmal bruit over the swelling), ± symptoms from pressure on contiguous parts.

Risk factors
Atherosclerosis, hypertension.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

aneurysm

Surgery A weakened or attentuated site on the wall of an artery, a vein or the ventricle, which has stretched or ballooned and filled with blood or, in an artery, resulting in a splitting of the wall, leading to pooling of blood in the vessel wall Clinical Pulsating mass, bruit–aneurysmal bruit over the swelling, ± symptoms from pressure on contiguous parts. See Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Aortic aneurysm, Berry aneurysm, Cerebral aneurysm, Mycotic aneurysm, Ruptured aortic aneurysm.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

an·eu·rysm

(an'yūr-izm)

1. A localized dilation of a blood vessel, usually due to an acquired or congenital weakness of the wall of the blood vessel.

2. Circumscribed dilation of a cardiac chamber usually due to an acquired or congenital weakness of the wall of the heart.

[G. aneurysma (-mat-), a dilation, fr. eurys, wide]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

aneurysm

A berry-like or diffuse swelling on an artery, usually at or near a branch, and caused by localized damage or weakness to the vessel wall. Aneurysms can also involve the heart wall after a section has been weakened. See also BERRY ANEURYSM. The term derives from the Greek anaeurusma , a widening.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

aneurism

or

aneurysm

dilation of an artery wall, a sac formed by abnormal dilation of the weakened wall of a blood vessel.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

Aneurysm

A weak point in a blood vessel where the pressure of the blood causes the vessel wall to bulge outwards. An aneurysm may also appear as a sac-like projection from the blood vessel wall.

Mentioned in: Aneurysmectomy, Arteriovenous Malformations, Barbiturate-Induced Coma, Cardiac Blood Pool Scan, Cardiac Catheterization, Computed Tomography Scans, Hemoptysis, Kawasaki Syndrome, Lithotripsy, Stroke, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Vasculitis

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

aneurysm 

A localized dilatation of the walls of a blood vessel, usually an artery, as a result of infection, injury or degeneration. It is filled with fluid or clotted blood. Aneurysms occur in diabetic retinopathy, and retinal veinocclusion leading to haemorrhages and oedema.

Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. © 2009 Butterworth-Heinemann

an·eu·rysm

(an'yūr-izm) Avoid the misspelling aneurism.

Circumscribed dilation of an artery or a cardiac chamber, in direct communication with the lumen, usually resulting from an acquired or congenital weakness of the wall of the artery or chamber.

[G. aneurysma (-mat-), a dilation, fr. eurys, wide]

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012

Patient discussion about Aneurysm

Q. What are the causes of aneurysm?

A. An aneurysm is usually a congenital malformation of the blood vessels (meaning you are born with it), and there's not a certain cause for it, although high blood pressure, stress or atherosclerosis can trigger it to rupture and that is the danger.

Q. Can an aneurysm repair it self on her own? A friend of mine was diagnosed with an aneurysm. At first he was sure he is going to have a surgery, but afterwards his doctor told him he should get medical treatment. I don't understand - how come some people need a surgical repair while others just take medications? I know this is a serious condition that is life threatening can an aneurysm repair it self on her own? Or maybe when his doctor didn't recommend surgery he malpractices? the reason that I ask is that all the other people that I heard of that had an aneurysm had a surgery, and I don't really trust this doctor.

A. There can be several reasons why an aneurysm is not operatable. It can be its anatomic location, it can be its size or maybe its just to dangerus to oprate because of other diseases your friend suffer from.
Anyway if you want you can go to your GP and ask him why didn't he offer you the surgical treatment.

Q. Could I be going through a Brain aneurysm? i woke up in the night with a bad headache in the back of my head and above my eye. never had a headache like that. but all day today have not had the headache. could this be an aneurysm?

A. I had an brain anyuism in 2001. I had a head ache right above my left eye for 10 days. It got worse as the days went by. I went in to the emergency room and they gave me a spinal tap and it ruptured.Thank God that it cloted (that dos'nt happen). But it did and they did emergency surgury. I am alive and back to normal today. My parents both died of brain anyuisms. That is how huretaty starts.

This content is provided by iMedix and is subject to iMedix Terms. The Questions and Answers are not endorsed or recommended and are made available by patients, not doctors.