STROKE-PRESENTATION, MCA (SUPERIOR DIVISION)

SUMMARY

1. The superior division of MCA supplies Rolandic (central sulcus) and pre-Rolandic (pre-central) areas
2. Most common cause of occlusion is an embolus

DEFICITS
3. Contralateral hemiparesis, hemiplegia, hemi-sensory loss (involvement of the face & arms greater than lower limbs)

4. Head & eyes deviate towards the side of the infarct
5. Muscle tone is initially flaccid, subsequently becomes spastic over days to weeks

SPECIFIC SIDE
6. Left side lesion (dominant hemisphere): global aphasia followed by Broca's aphasia
7. Right side lesion (non-dominant hemisphere): deficits in spatial perception, hemineglect, constructional apraxia, dressing apraxia, anosognosia

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].