Neuro 101 Toolkit-Anatomy of a Stoke

Anatomy of a Stoke

Pdf Summary

The presentation reviews how stroke location determines neurologic symptoms and emphasizes that, in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, rapid recognition and intervention are critical because “time is brain.”<br /><br />Neuroassessment should consider handedness and language dominance: most people are right-handed, while language is left-hemisphere–based in about 60% of left-handed people. Cranial nerve findings are generally ipsilateral; most motor pathways cross in the medulla, so each cerebral hemisphere primarily controls the opposite side of the body.<br /><br />The anterior circulation includes the middle and anterior cerebral arteries. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) strokes may affect the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, basal ganglia, and internal capsule. Dominant-hemisphere injury can cause aphasia, while nondominant injury may impair spatial awareness, cognition, or recognition and cause neglect. Weakness, sensory changes, visual-field deficits, and reduced consciousness are also concerns. Anterior cerebral artery (ACA) injury can affect executive function, speech, bladder control, and—especially—leg movement.<br /><br />The posterior circulation includes the vertebral, basilar, and posterior cerebral arteries and branches supplying the brainstem, cerebellum, and occipital and temporal regions. Strokes here may cause cranial nerve dysfunction, swallowing or speech difficulties, balance and coordination problems, visual loss, memory impairment, tremor, or pain. PICA strokes may affect the cerebellum and medulla, making airway protection, aspiration prevention, and balance assessment important nursing priorities.<br /><br />Overall, assessment and care should be guided by the affected vascular territory, with close attention to consciousness, communication, movement, sensation, vision, swallowing, airway safety, and mobility.

Keywords

stroke location

neurologic symptoms

ischemic stroke

hemorrhagic stroke

middle cerebral artery

anterior cerebral artery

posterior circulation

cranial nerve deficits

aphasia

airway protection