What is the medical term for a blood clot in an artery of the brain?

The medical term for a blood clot that forms in an artery of the brain is "cerebral thrombosis." This term specifically describes the condition where a thrombus, or clot, develops within a cerebral artery, ultimately leading to a reduction or blockage of blood flow to a region of the brain. This can result in significant neurological damage if not promptly addressed.

Cerebral thrombosis is distinct in that it refers to the formation of the clot at the site itself, as opposed to other conditions like embolism where a clot may travel from another part of the body and lodge in the brain, causing an obstruction. Stroke is a broader term that encompasses both cerebral thrombosis and other types of strokes, like ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Arterial occlusion may describe the blockage of blood flow in an artery but does not specify that it is due to a clot forming in the brain. While "brain embolism" includes clot-related events, it refers to the traveling nature of the clot rather than its formation in the brain itself.