Stroke Flashcards
Define a stroke
Stroke is the ‘umbrella’ term used to describe an event where the blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted.
Explain the two types of stroke.
Ischaemia (infarction)- where the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off due to a clot.
Haemorrhage - where the blood supply is disrupted in the brain due to a weakened blood vessel bursting.
What type of stroke is more common?
85% of strokes are ischaemic
10% are due to primary haemorrhage (IntraCerebral Haemorrhage)
5% due to subarachnoid haemorrhage
Ischaemic strokes are 7-8 times more common
In relation to ischaemic strokes, will all patients experience the same symptoms?
No, patient symptoms due to ischemia result as a consequence of the blood vessels in a particular area of the brain that is affected.
Therefore Doctors can use their understanding of arterial anatomy and the brain territories supplied by the cerebral arteries to predict the blood vessels that have been affected and the consequence that this will have on the patient.
When do stroke symptoms occur?
When the oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain is cut off.
State the three arteries that supply each of the cerebral hemispheres.
Anterior cerebral artery - ACA
Middle cerebral artery - MCA
Posterior cerebral artery - PCA
Describe where the anterior cerebral artery supplies.
Supplies the medial portion of the frontal and parietal lobes and anterior portion of the basal ganglia.
Describe where the middle cerebral artery supplies.
Supplies the lateral portions of the frontal and parietal lobes and the lateral portions of the temporal lobes.
It is the dominant source of vascular supply to the hemispheres.
Describe where the posterior cerebral artery supplies.
Supplies the thalamus, brainstem, posterior and medial, temporal and occipital lobes.
Which side of the brain controls movement on each side of the body?
The nerves that originate in the right hemisphere are responsible for the motor control of the left side of the body.
The nerves originating in the left hemisphere are responsible for the motor control of the right side of the body.
State the four different areas of the cerebrum and what are they responsible for?
For each cerebral hemisphere there are different areas which control planned movement (on that correlated side of the body), thinking, feelings, emotions, memory
The fourdifferent areas are:
Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Occipital lobe
Each lobe is responsible for different skills.
What are some of the functions of the frontal lobe?
Speaking
Planning
Problem solving
Starting some movements
Processing emotions
Part of your personality and character
What are some of the functions of the parietal lobe?
Touch
Temperature
Pressure
Pain
Reception and evaluation
Object recognition
What are some of the functions of the temporal lobe?
Evaluating auditory (processing language)
Olfactory input
Important role in memory, thought and judgement
What are some of the functions of the occipital lobe?
Reception and integration of visual input (colour, shape and distance)
Describe what is an transient ischaemic attack.
The acute loss of focal cerebral or ocular function with symptoms (neurological deficit) lasting less than 24 hours’.
When do the symptoms associated with a TIA resolve?
Usually resolve within minutes or a few hours at most
Why should TIAs still be treated as a medical emergency?
Often a warning sign that you are at risk of having a full stroke in the near future .
Describe the risk of having a full stroke after a TIA?
Very high risk within one month and up to a year afterwards
What happens during a primary haemorrhagic stroke?
When a blood vessel bleeds into the deep
cerebral tissue of the brain, this is known as a Intracerebral Haemorrhage
What happens during a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Occurs when a blood vessel on the surface of the brain ruptures and bleeds into the subarachnoid space
Under what circumstances does a haemorrhagic stroke occur?
Occurs when there is weakened or abnormal blood vessels.
May also be caused when the blood vessels are under pressure due to brain tumours, inflammation or after trauma.
Is stroke a leading cause of death?
It is the second leading cause of death worldwide.
Is it a leading cause of death in the UK?
Fourth leading cause in the UK