A brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. The arteries are responsible for taking oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. Veins carry the oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs and heart. A brain AVM disrupts this vital process. Brain AVMs may be but are rarely inherited, and some believe they are congenital (present from birth). They are rare and affect less than 1 percent of the population.

Once diagnosed, a brain AVM can often be successfully treated to prevent complications, which might include bleeding (hemorrhage), brain damage, or a stroke.

For more information, visit the American Association of Neurological Surgeons