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Brain -- effects of stroke
Your brain has three main components - the cerebrum (which consists of the left and right cerebral hemispheres), the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebral hemispheres of the brain make up the largest part of your brain. The cerebellum is the structure located behind the brain stem, and the brain stem is the lowest section of the brain and is connected to the spinal cord.
Illustration provided by: Leslie Laurien, MSMI
| Region of the Cerebrum Damaged by Stroke | Signs and Symptoms |
| Wernicke's area (central language area) | Difficulty speaking understandably and comprehending speech; confusion between left and right; difficulty reading, writing, naming objects, and calculating |
| Broca's area (speech) | Difficulty speaking and, sometimes, writing |
| Parietal lobe on the left side of the brain | Loss of coordination of the right arm and leg |
| Facial and limb areas of the motor cortex on the left side of the brain | Paralysis of the right arm and leg and the right side of the face |
| Facial and arm areas of the sensory cortex | Absence of sensation in the right arm and the right side of the face Optic radiation Loss of the right half of the visual field of both eyes |
Glossary
Brain stem
Mainly controls unconscious vital functions such as blood pressure and breathing
Cerebellum
Maintains posture, balance and coordination of movement
Gustatory area
Controls the sense of taste
Left cerebral hemisphere
Together with right cerebral hemisphere, controls most conscious and mental activities
Left middle cerebral artery
A major source of blood supply to the brain
Motor cortex
Sends instructions to muscles to cause voluntary movements
Optic radiation
Tract of nerve fibers involved in vision
Parietal lobe
Involved in sensations of pain and touch, spatial orientation, and speech
Prefrontal cortex
Provides ability to plan, reason, concentrate, and adjust behavior
Premotor cortex
Coordinates series of movements or intricate, complex movements
Primary auditory cortex
Distinguishes sound qualities (eg, loudness and tones)
Primary somatic sensory cortex
Receives information from skin receptors, distinguishing different types of sensations
Primary visual cortex
Detects basic parts of a visual scene (eg, outlines and light or dark)
Wernicke's area
Interprets sensory information
Content provided by: Web site Communications