Which term refers to a disruption in normal blood supply to the brain, commonly known as a stroke?

The term "cerebrovascular accident" (CVA) refers specifically to a disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain, which can result in brain tissue damage and loss of neurological function. This term encompasses both ischemic strokes, where blood supply is blocked, and hemorrhagic strokes, where there is bleeding in or around the brain. Identifying strokes under this terminology highlights the critical nature of the event as an emergency situation requiring immediate medical intervention.

Myocardial infarction, on the other hand, pertains to the heart and is commonly known as a heart attack, occurring when blood flow to a part of the heart is obstructed. Hypoxia refers to a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues and can occur in various medical conditions but is not specific to the brain's blood supply. Cardiac output is a measurement of the heart's efficiency in pumping blood throughout the body and does not directly refer to brain blood supply disruptions. Therefore, cerebrovascular accident is the most accurate term for describing a stroke.