n. An abnormal, blood-filled sac formed by dilation of the wall of a blood vessel or heart ventricle, most commonly the abdominal aorta and intracranial arteries, resulting from disease or trauma to the wall, as in atherosclerosis. [Middle English aneurisme, ultimately from Greek aneurusma, from aneurein, to dilate : ana-, throughout; see ANA- + eurus, wide.] an′eu·rysmal (-məl) adj. ![]() (click for a larger image) aneurysmleft: normal abdominal aorta right: abdominal aortic aneurysm |
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