Ischemic cascade
Ischemic Cascade
The Ischemic Cascade (pronounced: is-ke-mik kas-kade) is a series of biochemical reactions that occur in the brain following a stroke. These reactions lead to cell death, particularly in the neurons.
Etymology
The term "Ischemic Cascade" is derived from the word "ischemia", which comes from the Greek words "ischs" meaning "restriction" and "haima" meaning "blood". The word "cascade" is used to describe the series of reactions that occur in a domino-like effect.
Process
The Ischemic Cascade begins when there is a disruption in the blood supply to a part of the brain, often due to a blood clot or a hemorrhage. This leads to a lack of oxygen and glucose in the affected area, causing the neurons to switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. This results in the production of lactic acid, which lowers the pH and leads to acidosis.
The lack of oxygen and glucose also causes a disruption in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), leading to a failure of the sodium-potassium pump. This results in the accumulation of sodium and water in the cells, causing cellular edema and eventually cell death.
Related Terms
- Stroke: A medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death.
- Neurons: The basic working unit of the brain, a specialized cell designed to transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells.
- Blood Clot: A clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semisolid state.
- Hemorrhage: An escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, especially when profuse.
- Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): A complex organic chemical that provides energy to drive many processes in living cells.
- Cellular Edema: Swelling of cells that is often a response to injury or disease.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ischemic cascade
- Wikipedia's article - Ischemic cascade
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski