Definition: Sudden loss of consciousness followed by paralysis, caused by bleeding into the brain, formation of a bloodclot the blocks and artery or rupture of an artery in the brain causing beeding into the subarachnoid space.
Pronunciation: ser'e-bral vas'ku-lar ak'si-dent
Also Known As: CVA, stroke, apoplexy
Alternate Spellings: cerebrovascular accident, shock
Common Misspellings: cirebral vasscular accident
Examples: My father had a cerebral vascular accident, also known as a stroke that caused the left side of his body to be paralysed.