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ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

The nervous system is your body's decision and communication center.

The central nervous system (CNS) is made of the brain and the spinal cord and

the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is made of nerves.

The adult human brain weighs on average about 3 lbs. (1.5 kg) with a volume of

around 1130 cubic centimetres (cm3) in women and 1260 cm3 in men,

The Cerebrum: The cerebrum or cortex is the largest part of the human brain,

associated with higher brain function such as thought and action.

The cerebral cortex is divided into four sections, called "lobes": the frontal lobe,

parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. Here is a visual representation of

the cortex:

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Frontal Lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement,emotions, and problem solving

Parietal Lobe- associated with movement, orientation, recognition, perception of

stimuli Occipital Lobe- associated with visual processing Temporal Lobe- associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli,

memory, and speech

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CVA is a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion

of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain.

CVA denotes either ischemia from occlusion of blood vessels (producing cerebral

ischemia and infarction) or hemorrhage through their rupture.

Hemorrhage may occur outside the dura (extradural), beneath the dura mater

(subdural), in the subarachnoid space (subarachnoid), or within the brain

substance itself (intracerebral).

If blood flow stopped for longer than a few seconds, the brain cannot get blood

and oxygen. Brain cell can die, causing permanent damage.

Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is

blocked by a blood clot.

A clot may form in an artery that is already very narrow. This called a thrombotic

stroke.

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A clot may break off from another place in the blood vessels of the brain, or from

some other part of the body, and travel up to the brain. This called cerebral

embolism, or an embolic stroke.

Fat, cholesterol, and other substances collect on the artery walls forming a sticky

substance called plaque.

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in part of the brain becomes

weak and bursts open, causing blood to leak into the brain. Some people have

defects in the blood vessels of the brain that make this more likely.

RISK FACTORS: Diabetes, High cholesterol, Atrial fibrillation, Increasing

age, especially after age 55, Race (Black are more likely to affect),

smoking, alcohol, cocaine and overweight.