Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
aneurysm
Pronunciation: AN-yoo-rizm
Abnormal localized dilation of a blood vessel wall, typically an artery, that poses risk of rupture.
Full Definition
An aneurysm is a pathological widening of a blood vessel, most commonly an artery, where the vessel wall becomes weakened and bulges outward. In vascular medicine, aneurysms are classified by location (aortic, peripheral), morphology (fusiform, saccular), and etiology (atherosclerotic, mycotic, traumatic). They require careful monitoring and often surgical intervention when they reach critical size thresholds to prevent life-threatening rupture.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify location and dimensions when documenting aneurysms in clinical reports.
In Context
- "The patient presented with a 5.2 cm infrarenal aortic aneurysm requiring elective repair." — Clinical documentation
- "Serial imaging demonstrated progressive aneurysm expansion over the past year." — Progress note
Also known as
vascular dilation
arterial dilation
Contrasted with
stenosis
occlusion
Don't confuse with
pseudoaneurysm