What pathological conditions may develop into a full blown stroke?

Answer 1

Stroke is defined as the death of brain tissue due to the loss of oxygen (cerebral infarction), resulting in permanent and debilitating damage on the body's function, depending on where it may be in the brain. It may be caused by a number of pathological factors, including thrombosis (the abnormal enlargement of the vessel which may lead to turbulent flow and rupture of the vessel), or be secondary to an embolism (blood clot) elsewhere in the body, having been carried there through the systemic circulation.

Permanent damage to the brain tissue can occur if the oxygen supply is inadequate for 10 minutes or more. Interestingly enough, if the clot in a major vessel in the brain is not enough to completely occlude the vessel, the secondary blood supply via the Circle of Willis in the brain may may be able to provide an adequate collateral blood supply to prevent a stroke.

There are many, many causes of ischemic stroke, with Thrombosis, embolic occlusion the most common amongst others. If you have studied Virchow's Triad you may be able to deduce more conclusions as to the nature through which stroke can arise.

Then there is another type of stroke, called a hemorrhagic stroke where blood comes in contact with nerve tissue, resulting in infarction.

Finally, as mentioned briefly above, the area in which the stroke occurs in the brain will affect which areas are affected. For example, if someone is missing movement in their lower limbs on one side of the body, we may suspect that the primary motor cortex area which supplies the contralateral lower limb may be affected by the ischemic necrosis.

Answer 2

transient ischemic attack