ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BRAIN

THE BRAIN HAS THREE PRIMARY COMPONENTS :

o

The Cerebrum: The largest and most developmentally advanced portion of the brain.

controls a number of higher functions, including speech, emotion, the integration of sensory stimuli, initiation of the final common pathways for movement, and fine control of movement. divided into the left and a right hemisphere

FRONTAL LOBE

Involved in planning, organizing, problem solving and selective attention.

Left and Right parietal lobes Contain the primary sensory cortex, which controls sensation (touch and pressure), and a large association area that controls fine sensation (judgment of texture, weight, size, and shape)

Damage to the right parietal lobe can cause visuospacial deficits

Damage to the left parietal lobe may disrupt a patients ability to understand spoken and/or written language

Left and Right temporal lobes o Located around ear level, allow a person to differentiate smells and sounds.

The right lobe is primarily involved in visual memory (i.e., memory for faces and pictures). The left lobe is primarily involved in verbal memory (i.e., memory for words and names).

Occipital lobe Processes visual information. Cerebellum The cerebellum is the second largest area of the brain. It controls reflexes, balance and certain aspects of movement and coordination. Brain Stem The brain stem is responsible for a variety of automatic functions that are critical to life, such as breathing, digestion and heart beat as well as alertness and arousal (the state of being awake).

The heart pumps oxygen- and nutrient-laden blood to the brain, face, and scalp via two major sets of vessels: the carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries
external carotid arteries -supply blood to the face and scalp

internal carotid arteries - supply blood to the front (anterior) three-fifths of cerebrum, except for parts of the temporal and occipital lobes.

vertebral arteries - travel along the spinal column and cannot be felt from the outside.

They join to form a single basilar artery (hence the name vertebrobasilar arteries) near the brain stem at the base of the skull. The arteries supply blood to the posterior two-fifths of the cerebrum, part of the cerebellum, and the brain stem.

These arteries that conduct blood to the brain the internal-carotid and vertebral arteries connect through the Circle of Willis, which loops around the brainstem at the base of the brain. From this circle, other arteries the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) arise and travel to all parts of the brain

Collateral circulation

A process in which small (normally closed) arteries open up and connect two larger arteries or different parts of the same artery. They can serve as alternate routes of blood supply. Sometimes when an artery in the brain is blocked due to ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), open collateral vessels can allow blood to "detour" around the blockage, restoring blood flow to the affected part of the brain.

INTRODUCTION TO THE DISEASE PROCESS

Stroke is a term use to describe neurologic changes. It occurs when the supply of blood to the brain gets interrupted and oxygen can't reach every part of the brain resulting in loss of brain function and death of brain tissue, either in a small part of the brain or a larger one. A stroke is a medical emergency and can cause permanent neurological damage and death.

RISK FACTORS
old age high blood pressure previous stroke transient ischemic attack (TIA) diabetes high cholesterol tobacco smoking atrial fibrillation High blood pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor of stroke. It is the second leading cause of death worldwide

TYPES OF STROKE

Ischemic stroke often caused by a blood clot or thrombus (a fatty buildup called plaque) that forms in the carotid or vertebral artery system allowing little or no blood to flow to the brain Thrombotic stroke- In thrombotic stroke, a thrombus (blood clot) usually forms around atherosclerotic plaques. Since blockage of the artery is gradual, onset of symptomatic thrombotic strokes is slower. A thrombus itself (even if non-occluding) can lead to an embolic stroke if the thrombus breaks off.

Embolic stroke-A blood clot may also form elsewhere in the body, then break off from its anchor and form a mobile clot, or embolus and travel via the bloodstream to the brain, where it may partially or completely 'plug' a smaller vessel, causing the embolic stroke Hemorrhagic stroke- an artery or vessels rupture, spilling blood into the brain. This may occur in an artery affected by atherosclerosis or one with a congenital weakness which can swell and bulge outwards like a balloon