Glossary

General term for all clinical forms of a reduction in the blood supply and therefore of oxygen to tissue (ischemia). This reduction in the local blood flow is generally linked to atherosclerotic lesions that may be located in the:

• coronary arteries (arteries that supply the heart): this is known as a coronary or cardiac ischemic vascular accident,
• cerebral arteries (arteries that supply the brain): this is known as an ischemic cerebrovascular accident,
• peripheral arteries (arteries that supply the lower limbs and in particular the legs): this is known as a peripheral vascular accident.       

Ischemic vascular accidents are more serious when the atherosclerotic lesions are complicated by a thrombosis: this is referred to as atherothrombosis.