Stroke Anatomy

Question 1

What does the anterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 1

• Medial portions of frontal and parietal lobes

* Corpus callosum

Question 2

What symptoms would a stroke in the anterior cerebral artery cause?

Answer 2

Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss

Lower extremity > upper

Question 3

What does the middle cerebral artery supply?

Answer 3

• Frontal, parietal and temporal lobe surfaces

Question 4

What symptoms would a stroke in the middle cerebral artery cause?

Answer 4

Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, upper extremity > lower
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
If left, dominant hemisphere affected
•	Aphasia, dysphasia
If right hemisphere affected
•	Neglect

Question 5

What does the posterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 5

• Medial temporal (including hippocampus) and occipital lobes, thalamus and mammillary and geniculate bodies

Question 6

What symptoms would a stroke in the posterior cerebral artery cause?

Answer 6

Contralateral homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing

Visual agnosia

Question 7

What is Weber’s syndrome?

Answer 7

Branches of the posterior cerebral artery that supply the midbrain

• Ipsilateral CN III palsy
• Contralateral weakness of upper and lower extremity

Question 8

What is lateral medullary/Wallenbeg syndrome?

Answer 8

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery

• Ipsilateral: facial pain and temperature loss
• Contralateral: limb/torso pain and temperature loss
• Ataxia, nystagmus

Question 9

What is lateral pontine syndrome?

Answer 9

Anterior inferior cerebellar artery

• Ipsilateral: facial paralysis and deafness

Question 10

What happens in a stroke in the retinal/ophthalmic artery?

Answer 10

Amaurosis fugax

Question 11

What causes locked in syndrome?

Answer 11

Stroke in Basilar artery

Supplies brainstem, cerebellum, posterior cerebral cortex and medial temporal lobes

Question 12

What is the oxford stroke classification?

Answer 12

1. Unilateral hemiparesis and/or hemisensory loss of the face, arm and leg
2. Homonymous hemianopia
3. Higher cognitive dysfunction (dysphasia, visuospatial disorder)

Question 13

What is a Total anterior circulation infarct?

Answer 13

1. Unilateral hemiparesis and/or hemisensory loss of the face, arm and leg
2. Homonymous hemianopia
3. Higher cognitive dysfunction (dysphasia, visuospatial disorder)

All 3 of Oxford stroke classification

Question 14

What arteries does a Total anterior circulation infarct affect?

Answer 14

MCA and ACA

Question 15

What is a Partial anterior circulation infarct

Answer 15

1. Unilateral hemiparesis and/or hemisensory loss of the face, arm and leg
2. Homonymous hemianopia
3. Higher cognitive dysfunction (dysphasia, visuospatial disorder)

2 of Oxford stroke classification

Question 16

What arteries does a Partial anterior circulation infarct affect?

Answer 16

Smaller arteries of MCA or ACA

Question 17

What is a Lacunar infarct

Answer 17

Present with 1 of the following:
• Unilateral weakness (and/or sensory deficit)
• Pure sensory stroke
• Ataxic hemiparesis

Question 18

What arteries does a Lacunar infarct affect?

Answer 18

Perforating arteries around internal capsule, thalamus and basal ganglia

Question 19

What is a Posterior circulation infarct?

Answer 19

Presents with 1 of the following:
• Cerebellar or brainstem syndromes
• Loss of consciousness
• Isolated homonymous hemianopia

Question 20

What arteries does a Posterior circulation infarct affect?

Answer 20

Involves vertebrobasilar arteries