Hemorrhagic stroke is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Something bursts open
• B. Blockage that obstructs the flow of blood to brain
• C. Blood clot elsewhere that travels to the brain
• D. Bubble forms a weakening of a vessel

Answer: (A)

Bleeding into brain tissue from a ruptured vessel defines a hemorrhagic stroke. When a cerebral vessel bursts, blood leaks into surrounding brain areas or the ventricles, damaging tissue and increasing pressure. This contrasts with ischemic stroke, where the problem is a blockage that stops blood flow to part of the brain. The option describing something bursting open captures the key event of a hemorrhagic stroke. While an aneurysm (a ballooning vessel) can lead to rupture and bleeding, the essential feature remains the rupture and ensuing hemorrhage, not just a blockage or clot traveling to the brain.