cerebral lacune

A lacune, in the context of the nervous system, refers to small cavities of damaged tissue found in the white matter of the brain. These are typically caused by small, deep infarcts, which are areas of tissue death due to a lack of blood supply.1

The term "lacuna" itself originates from the Latin word for "lake," and in English, it can refer to a gap or missing portion. In the brain, lacunes are a result of cerebrovascular disease, often associated with strokes. These small infarcts can lead to specific neurological syndromes, such as pure weakness or sensory dysfunction on one side of the body.21