Brain Lobes, Blood Supply, and Stroke Basics

Fifty question-and-answer flashcards covering brain lobes, internal structures, blood supply, stroke mechanisms, and clinical signs.

Which ability evolved first in humans: understanding the meaning of sounds or creating meaningful speech?

Understanding the meaning of sounds

Name the four lobes of the cerebral cortex.

Frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital

Which lobe is primarily responsible for voluntary movement?

Frontal lobe

Which lobe handles somatosensation (touch)?

Parietal lobe

Which sense is the occipital lobe dedicated to?

Vision

Which lobe is described as the brain's "junk drawer" due to its diverse functions?

Temporal lobe

Which lobe contains areas for hearing and language comprehension?

Temporal lobe

Where in the brain are taste and smell primarily processed?

Temporal lobe

Which lobe is critical for face recognition?

Temporal lobe

Which lobe allows you to recognize familiar places and environments?

Temporal lobe

What are the major functions of the cerebellum?

Balance, equilibrium, and coordination

What collective term describes the thalamus, hypothalamus, subthalamus, and epithalamus?

The diencephalon

Which structure acts as the "central center" for conscious sensory awareness?

Thalamus

In relation to the thalamus, where is the hypothalamus located?

Directly beneath (inferior to) the thalamus

Which diencephalic area houses the pineal gland and regulates sleep via melatonin?

Epithalamus

Name the three parts of the brainstem.

Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

Through which paired neck vessels does blood reach the brain from the heart?

The carotid arteries

What circular arterial structure equalizes cerebral blood flow between the two carotids?

The Circle of Willis

Among the cerebral arteries branching from the Circle of Willis, which one has the largest diameter?

Middle cerebral artery (MCA)

Because it is the largest opening, which artery is a blood clot most likely to enter from the Circle of Willis?

The middle cerebral artery

Which cortical territory is served by the middle cerebral artery?

The large lateral surfaces of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes

Which artery supplies the medial surfaces of the frontal and parietal lobes, including the leg motor area?

Anterior cerebral artery (ACA)

Which artery predominantly feeds the occipital lobe and visual cortex?

Posterior cerebral artery (PCA)

Which of the four major cerebral arteries is the smallest and nourishes a very limited area?

Anterior choroidal artery

What are the two major classes of stroke?

Ischemic (clot/obstruction) and hemorrhagic (bleed/rupture)

In either type of stroke, what is the fundamental problem for brain tissue?

Inadequate blood supply

What three main sudden neurological problems are assessed in the FAST mnemonic?

Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties

Why does a middle cerebral artery stroke often cause facial droop and arm weakness but spare the leg?

The MCA territory covers the face and arm areas of the motor cortex, while the leg area is supplied by the ACA

Which side of the body shows deficits when the left cerebral hemisphere has a stroke?

The right side (contralateral)

During a quick stroke screen, what does downward drifting of one outstretched arm indicate?

Weakness or loss of motor control on that side

What simple bedside maneuver can exaggerate subtle arm weakness during stroke testing?

Ask the patient to hold both arms out with palms up and eyes closed

Which structure in the neck allows you to palpate a pulse and confirms you are not dead?

The carotid artery

Why did evolution favor a traffic circle (Circle of Willis) instead of direct left/right arterial supply?

To allow collateral blood flow if one carotid becomes blocked

Which portion of the motor cortex controls movement of the mouth and tongue?

The inferior (lower) region of the pre-central gyrus

In the sensory homunculus, which modality does the parietal lobe primarily handle?

Touch (somatosensation)

Name two signs that can accompany dizziness during a cerebellar stroke.

Nausea and coordination problems (e.g., past-pointing)

Failure to touch the examiner’s finger with one's own finger during cerebellar testing suggests injury to which brain region?

The cerebellum

What term describes symptoms that affect both sides of the body?

Bilateral

A patient with left-arm weakness and left facial droop most likely has a stroke in which hemisphere?

The right hemisphere

If stroke symptoms involve only the legs, which cerebral artery is most suspect?

The anterior cerebral artery

What hormone does the pineal gland produce to regulate sleep?

Melatonin

Which basal-ganglia-related structure lies below the thalamus?

Subthalamus

What does the prefix "epi-" mean, as in epithalamus?

Surrounding or upon

In the brainstem, which portion directly connects to the spinal cord?

Medulla oblongata

What broad functional category do the basal ganglia (including the subthalamus) contribute to?

Movement control/motor regulation

Which lobe houses Broca’s area for language expression?

Frontal lobe

Which lobe contains Wernicke’s area for language comprehension?

Temporal lobe

What nickname is sometimes given to the temporal lobe because of its varied tasks?

The brain’s "junk drawer"