What is the most frequent origin of an embolus that occludes the middle cerebral artery?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the most common source of emboli that lead to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The MCA is a major artery in the brain, and its blockage can cause stroke. We need to identify the most likely origin of a blood clot (embolus) that would travel to and block the MCA.
Answer
The heart.
The most frequent origin of an embolus that occludes the middle cerebral artery is the heart.
Answer for screen readers
The most frequent origin of an embolus that occludes the middle cerebral artery is the heart.
More Information
Emboli of cardiac origin frequently occlude the middle cerebral artery due to direct flow from the heart.
Tips
It is important to differentiate between a thrombus and an embolus. A thrombus is a clot that forms locally, while an embolus travels from another part of the body.
Sources
- Cerebral Embolism - ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Embolic Stroke - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Neuroanatomy, Middle Cerebral Artery - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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