Stroke types Flashcards
Anterior cerebral artery
- Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss (to the lesion)
- Lower extremity > upper
Middle cerebral artery
- Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, upper extremity > lower
- Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
- Aphasia
Contralateral to the lesion
Posterior cerebral artery
- Contralateral homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing
- Visual agnosia
Weber’s syndrome (branches of the posterior cerebral artery that supply the midbrain)
- Ipsilateral CN III palsy
- Contralateral weakness of upper and lower extremity
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (lateral medullary syndrome, Wallenberg syndrome)
- Ipsilateral: facial pain and temperature loss
- Contralateral: limb/torso pain and temperature loss
- Ataxia, nystagmus
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (lateral pontine syndrome)
Symptoms are similar to Wallenberg’s, but:
Ipsilateral: facial paralysis and deafness
Retinal/ophthalmic artery
Amaurosis fugax
Basilar artery
‘Locked-in’ syndrome
Lacunar strokes
- present with either isolated hemiparesis, hemisensory loss or hemiparesis with limb ataxia
- strong association with hypertension
- common sites include the basal ganglia, thalamus and internal capsule
Total anterior circulation infarcts
involves middle and anterior cerebral arteries
All 3 of below are present:
1. unilateral hemiparesis and/or hemisensory loss of the face, arm & leg
2. homonymous hemianopia
3. higher cognitive dysfunction e.g. dysphasia
Partial anterior circulation infarcts
involves smaller arteries of anterior circulation e.g. upper or lower division of middle cerebral artery
2 of below are present:
1. unilateral hemiparesis and/or hemisensory loss of the face, arm & leg
2. homonymous hemianopia
3. higher cognitive dysfunction e.g. dysphasia
