What Is a Brain Infarction?
All of the organs in the body require an adequate amount of blood flow in order to operate correctly and stay in good working order. When an organ is deprived of blood by a blocked or damaged artery, the tissues may die, causing the organ to fail or suffer permanent damage. A brain infarction is when the brain is prevented from receiving blood, leading to tissue damage, stroke, and possible fatality. There are two types of brain infarction, based on where the damage occurs. A cerebral brain infarction occurs when the cerebral cortex is starved of blood due to damage to the carotid arteries. The lower part of the brain receives most of its blood from vertebral arteries, leading to a brain stem infarction when blood supply is choked off. Both types of infarction can lead to serious complications such as brain damage or even death.
