Signs and symptoms of
cerebrovascular lesions
Middle cerebral artery (MCA)
The middle cerebral artery arises from the internal carotid artery. The
proximal part supplies a large portion of the frontal, parietal and
temporal lobes. The deep branches supply the basal ganglia (corpus
striatum and globus pal- lidus), internal capsule and thalamus.
Signs and symptoms---- Structures involved
-Contralateral weakness/ paralysis of face, arm, trunk
and leg ----Motor cortex (precentral gyrus)
-Contralateral sensory impairment/loss of face, arm,
trunk and leg ----Somatosensory cortex(postcentral gyrus)
-Broca’s dysphasia--- Motor speech area of Broca(dominant frontal lobe)
-Wernicke’s dysphasia---- Sensory speech area of Wernicke (dominant
parietal/ temporal lobe)
-Neglect of contralateral side, dressing and constructional apraxia,
geographical agnosia, anosognosia---- Parietal lobe (non-dominant lobe)
, -Homonymous hemianopia---- Optic radiation – temporal fibres
-Ocular deviation-- Frontal lobe
-Gait disturbance--- Frontal lobe (usually bilateral)
-Pure motor hemiplegia---- Posterior limb of internal capsule and
adjacent corona radiata
-Pure sensory syndrome ----Ventral posterior nucleus of thalamus
Anterior cerebral artery (ACA)
The anterior cerebral artery arises from the internal carotid artery and is
connected by the anterior communicating artery. It follows the curve of
the corpus callosum and supplies the medial aspect of the frontal and
parietal lobes, corpus callosum, internal capsule and basal ganglia
Signs and symptoms ---Structures involved
Contralateral hemiplegia/ hemiparesis---- Motor cortex
Contralateral sensory loss/ impairment ----Somatosensory cortex
cerebrovascular lesions
Middle cerebral artery (MCA)
The middle cerebral artery arises from the internal carotid artery. The
proximal part supplies a large portion of the frontal, parietal and
temporal lobes. The deep branches supply the basal ganglia (corpus
striatum and globus pal- lidus), internal capsule and thalamus.
Signs and symptoms---- Structures involved
-Contralateral weakness/ paralysis of face, arm, trunk
and leg ----Motor cortex (precentral gyrus)
-Contralateral sensory impairment/loss of face, arm,
trunk and leg ----Somatosensory cortex(postcentral gyrus)
-Broca’s dysphasia--- Motor speech area of Broca(dominant frontal lobe)
-Wernicke’s dysphasia---- Sensory speech area of Wernicke (dominant
parietal/ temporal lobe)
-Neglect of contralateral side, dressing and constructional apraxia,
geographical agnosia, anosognosia---- Parietal lobe (non-dominant lobe)
, -Homonymous hemianopia---- Optic radiation – temporal fibres
-Ocular deviation-- Frontal lobe
-Gait disturbance--- Frontal lobe (usually bilateral)
-Pure motor hemiplegia---- Posterior limb of internal capsule and
adjacent corona radiata
-Pure sensory syndrome ----Ventral posterior nucleus of thalamus
Anterior cerebral artery (ACA)
The anterior cerebral artery arises from the internal carotid artery and is
connected by the anterior communicating artery. It follows the curve of
the corpus callosum and supplies the medial aspect of the frontal and
parietal lobes, corpus callosum, internal capsule and basal ganglia
Signs and symptoms ---Structures involved
Contralateral hemiplegia/ hemiparesis---- Motor cortex
Contralateral sensory loss/ impairment ----Somatosensory cortex
