Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat the MCA IsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What the MCA Is
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
A middle cerebral artery (MCA)strokeoccurs when blood flow from the MCA, one of the largest arteries of the brain, is suddenly interrupted (ischemia) or altogether stopped (infarction). The loss of blood flow causestissue death, leading to serious and potentially permanent brain injury.
This article takes a closer look at the MCA as well as the symptoms and causes of MCA strokes. It also explains how MCA strokes are diagnosed and treated and what to expect during rehabilitation.
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What Is the Middle Cerebral Artery?
Thearteriesin your brain come in symmetrical pairs. Each one has a left and right artery. The MCAs are vital blood vessels that branch off from the internal carotid arteries.
The internal carotid arteries are branches of thecommon carotid arteries. Those are large blood vessels in your neck.
The MCA is the largest branch of the internal carotid arteries. It can be involved in large strokes.
What Does the MCA Do?
Arteries in the brain carry blood that’s rich in oxygen and nutrients to the brain.Each artery supplies a different section of the brain. That section is called the “territory” of that artery.
The MCAs supply a large territory in the brain that is involved in:
When blood flow to these areas is impaired, they have a hard time carrying out their functions.
Middle Cerebral Artery Anatomy and Function
MCA Stroke Symptoms
MCA strokes are the most common type. Their symptoms are the ones people usually associate with strokes, such as:
An MCA stroke may also cause:
These affect the opposite side of the body from the artery. Thus, a stroke in the right MCA causes symptoms on the left side of the body.
How to Tell if Someone Is Having a Stroke
How to Recognize a Stroke and What to Do
1:36Click Play to Learn All About MCA Strokes
1:36
Click Play to Learn All About MCA Strokes
The MCA is a large blood vessel. Large-vessel strokes affect more of the brain than strokes in small vessels. If the MCA itself is blocked, the result is a large-vessel stroke that affects its entire territory.
If only a small branch of the MCA is blocked, it causes a small-vessel stroke. This impacts a small section of the MCA’s territory and is often less serious.
When the clot causing the blockage originates in the arteries of the brain, the stroke is called athrombotic stroke.
Risk factors for MCA strokes include:
MCA strokes are among the most easily recognized types of stroke.
Even so, your healthcare provider will likely use multiple labs and tests to confirm the diagnosis. These may include:
Other tests and imaging may be performed depending on your symptoms.
How Stroke Is Diagnosed
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Treatment for an MCA stroke can be divided into two parts: initial treatment and rehabilitation.
Initial Treatment for MCA Stroke
Urgent treatment may include:
MCA Stroke Rehabilitation
Rehabilitationafter a stroke can be intensive and prolonged. It may involve physical, occupational, and speech therapy. It’s recommended that those who qualify and have access to services in an inpatient rehabilitation facility receive care there in preference to a skilled nursing facility.
Summary
Blocks or ruptures in the MCA lead to MCA strokes. The resulting loss of blood, oxygen, and nutrients can cause brain damage and impair function in the regions that get blood from the MCA.
Treatment includes blood thinners, surgery to relieve pressure, and management of several vital signs. Recovery may involve multiple types of therapy, depending on the symptoms. Recovery from an MCA stroke may take some time, particularly if the entire MCA was blocked, resulting in a large stroke.
Long-term recovery and rehabilitation may take months or even years. However, a good recovery is possible even from very serious strokes. Most people who have an MCA stroke are able to regain some function.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is a stroke?Chandra A, Li WA, Stone CR, Geng X, Ding Y.The cerebral circulation and cerebrovascular disease I: anatomy.Brain Circ. 2017;3(2):45-56. doi:10.4103/bc.bc_10_17Aroor S, Singh R, Goldstein LB.BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time): reducing the proportion of strokes missed using the FAST mnemonic.Stroke. 2017;48(2):479-481. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.015169American Stroke Association.Atherosclerosis and stroke.Dharmasaroja PA, Muengtaweepongsa S.Outcomes of patients with large middle cerebral artery infarct treated with and without intravenous thrombolysis.J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2016;7(1):36-39. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.172149Czap AL, Sheth SA.Overview of imaging modalities in stroke.Neurology. 2021;97(20S):S42-S51. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000012794Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al.2021 Guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke. 2021;52(7):e364-e467. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000375Katsanos AH, Psychogios K, Turc G, et al.Off-label use of tenecteplase for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e224506. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.4506Winstein CJ, Stein J, Arena R, et al.Guidelines for adult stroke rehabilitation and recovery: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke. 2016;47(6). doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000098
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is a stroke?Chandra A, Li WA, Stone CR, Geng X, Ding Y.The cerebral circulation and cerebrovascular disease I: anatomy.Brain Circ. 2017;3(2):45-56. doi:10.4103/bc.bc_10_17Aroor S, Singh R, Goldstein LB.BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time): reducing the proportion of strokes missed using the FAST mnemonic.Stroke. 2017;48(2):479-481. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.015169American Stroke Association.Atherosclerosis and stroke.Dharmasaroja PA, Muengtaweepongsa S.Outcomes of patients with large middle cerebral artery infarct treated with and without intravenous thrombolysis.J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2016;7(1):36-39. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.172149Czap AL, Sheth SA.Overview of imaging modalities in stroke.Neurology. 2021;97(20S):S42-S51. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000012794Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al.2021 Guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke. 2021;52(7):e364-e467. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000375Katsanos AH, Psychogios K, Turc G, et al.Off-label use of tenecteplase for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e224506. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.4506Winstein CJ, Stein J, Arena R, et al.Guidelines for adult stroke rehabilitation and recovery: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke. 2016;47(6). doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000098
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is a stroke?Chandra A, Li WA, Stone CR, Geng X, Ding Y.The cerebral circulation and cerebrovascular disease I: anatomy.Brain Circ. 2017;3(2):45-56. doi:10.4103/bc.bc_10_17Aroor S, Singh R, Goldstein LB.BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time): reducing the proportion of strokes missed using the FAST mnemonic.Stroke. 2017;48(2):479-481. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.015169American Stroke Association.Atherosclerosis and stroke.Dharmasaroja PA, Muengtaweepongsa S.Outcomes of patients with large middle cerebral artery infarct treated with and without intravenous thrombolysis.J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2016;7(1):36-39. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.172149Czap AL, Sheth SA.Overview of imaging modalities in stroke.Neurology. 2021;97(20S):S42-S51. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000012794Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al.2021 Guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke. 2021;52(7):e364-e467. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000375Katsanos AH, Psychogios K, Turc G, et al.Off-label use of tenecteplase for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e224506. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.4506Winstein CJ, Stein J, Arena R, et al.Guidelines for adult stroke rehabilitation and recovery: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke. 2016;47(6). doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000098
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is a stroke?
Chandra A, Li WA, Stone CR, Geng X, Ding Y.The cerebral circulation and cerebrovascular disease I: anatomy.Brain Circ. 2017;3(2):45-56. doi:10.4103/bc.bc_10_17
Aroor S, Singh R, Goldstein LB.BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time): reducing the proportion of strokes missed using the FAST mnemonic.Stroke. 2017;48(2):479-481. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.015169
American Stroke Association.Atherosclerosis and stroke.
Dharmasaroja PA, Muengtaweepongsa S.Outcomes of patients with large middle cerebral artery infarct treated with and without intravenous thrombolysis.J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2016;7(1):36-39. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.172149
Czap AL, Sheth SA.Overview of imaging modalities in stroke.Neurology. 2021;97(20S):S42-S51. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000012794
Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al.2021 Guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke. 2021;52(7):e364-e467. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000375
Katsanos AH, Psychogios K, Turc G, et al.Off-label use of tenecteplase for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e224506. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.4506
Winstein CJ, Stein J, Arena R, et al.
Guidelines for adult stroke rehabilitation and recovery: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke. 2016;47(6). doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000098
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