Cerebral Blood Supply and MCA Stroke

Cerebral Blood Supply

• The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a major artery that supplies blood to the brain.
• The upper trunk of the MCA can be affected by stroke.
• A stroke in the upper trunk of the MCA can lead to language deficits in the left hemisphere.
• Broca's aphasia is a type of language deficit that affects the ability to speak fluently.
• Problem solving ability can be diminished in a person who has experienced an MCA stroke.

MCA Stroke - Dysfunction

• Loss of function on one side of the body: This includes weakness, paralysis, and loss of sensation.
• Facial and arm weakness: These are common symptoms of an MCA stroke.
• Sensory deficits on one side: The affected side of the body may have a loss of sensation.
• Visual field deficit: This means that the person may have difficulty seeing things on one side of their visual field.
• Difficulty with lateral gaze: This refers to difficulty moving the eyes to look to the side.
• Inability to plan and execute sequential movements: This can make it difficult for the person to perform tasks that require multiple steps.

Right Hemisphere Stroke - Dysfunction

• Neglect of the left side of the body: This means that the person may be unaware of their left side, and may not attend to it.
• Visual neglect of the left side: This means that the person may not see things on the left side of their visual field.
• Visual spatial deficits: This means that the person may have difficulty with tasks that involve spatial relationships.
• Unconsciousness/Confusion: This can occur in the immediate aftermath of a stroke.
• Difficulty with movement on the left side: This is a common symptom of a right hemisphere stroke.
• Apraxia: This refers to the inability to carry out purposeful movement despite an understanding of the task.
• Aphasia: While less common than in left hemisphere strokes, aphasia can occur in right hemisphere strokes.
• Problems with planning and executing complex movements: This can make it difficult for the person to perform tasks that require coordination and planning.
• Problems with speech: Right hemisphere stroke can affect speech, causing problems with prosody, intonation, and overall fluency.

This quiz focuses on the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and its role in cerebrovascular accidents. It covers the effects of MCA strokes, including language deficits and other neurological dysfunctions. Test your knowledge on symptoms, causes, and recovery related to MCA-related strokes.