Aneurysm
An abnormal bulging of a blood vessel wall due to a weak spot.
An aneurysm is a localized bulge in a blood vessel wall, often described as bubble- or balloon-like, resulting from a weakened spot. This weakness can stem from inherited conditions or diseases acquired later in life. The bulge may serve as a starting point for blood clots, which can then travel through the bloodstream. As the aneurysm grows larger, the chance it will burst increases, which can cause severe bleeding. While aneurysms can develop in any blood vessel, some of the most dangerous types occur in the brain's circle of Willis, the thoracic aorta, and the abdominal aorta.
Quick Facts
- Field
- Vascular surgery, interventional radiology
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Aneurysms are classified by type, morphology, or location. True aneurysms involve all three layers of the artery wall (intima, media, and adventitia) and include atherosclerotic, syphilitic, and congenital forms, as well as ventricular aneurysms following transmural myocardial infarctions. False aneurysms, or pseudoaneurysms, are collections of blood leaking completely out of a vessel but confined by surrounding tissue, often caused by trauma or percutaneous surgical procedures.
Did You Know?
- The word 'aneurysm' comes from the Greek ἀνεύρυσμα, meaning 'dilation'.
- Saccular aneurysms are spherical and involve only a portion of the vessel wall, often filled partially or fully by a thrombus.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms are usually asymptomatic but can cause lower back pain or lower limb ischemia in rare cases.
- Copper deficiency can cause aneurysms by decreasing lysyl oxidase activity, affecting elastin in vessel walls.
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