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 |
