WBR0578

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Author [[PageAuthor::Rim Halaby, M.D. [1]]]
Exam Type ExamType::USMLE Step 1
Main Category MainCategory::Anatomy, MainCategory::Pathophysiology
Sub Category SubCategory::Neurology
Prompt [[Prompt::A 71 year old male patient known to have coronary artery disease and hypertension presents to the emergency department for acute onset of right arm weakness and speech difficulty. The patient is not able to speak full sentences and answers by saying: "Ummm...Ummm..Not move..Ummm arrr...arm". Whenever the physician asks him a question, the patient tries to answer by using hand gestures. Which of the following is the most likely area of the brain responsible for the patient's speech dysfunction?]]
Answer A AnswerA::Superior temporal gyrus
Answer A Explanation [[AnswerAExp::Wernicke's aphasia is a speech dysfunction characterized by impaired comprehension, intact speech fluency and impaired repetition. It results from damage to the superior temporal gyrus. Wernicke's aphasia is also known as sensory or receptive aphasia.]]
Answer B AnswerB::Inferior frontal gyrus
Answer B Explanation AnswerBExp::Broca's aphasia is a speech dysfunction characterized by intact comprehension, impaired speech fluency and impaired repetition. It results from damage to the inferior frontal gyrus. Broca's aphasia is also known as motor or expressive aphasia.
Answer C AnswerC::Superior temporal and frontal gyri
Answer C Explanation AnswerCExp::Global aphasia is a speech dysfunction characterized by impaired comprehension, impaired speech fluency and impaired repetition. It results from damage to a larger area of the brain involving the superior temporal and inferior frontal gyri.
Answer D AnswerD::Arcuate fasiculus
Answer D Explanation [[AnswerDExp::Conduction aphasia is a speech dysfunction characterized by intact comprehension, intact speech fluency and impaired repetition. It results from damage to the arcuate fasciculus.]]
Answer E AnswerE::Between the supplementary motor area and the frontal perisylvian speech zone
Answer E Explanation [[AnswerEExp::Transcortical motor aphasia is a speech dysfunction characterized by impaired comprehension, impaired speech fluency and intact repetition. It results from damage to the area between the supplementary motor area and the frontal perisylvian speech zone.]]
Right Answer RightAnswer::B
Explanation [[Explanation::The patient's sudden onset of symptoms of right side weakness along with speech difficulty is consistent with a stroke involving the middle cerebral artery. The patient seems to understand what the physician is asking him but is finding a difficulty articulating the words. The patient's intact comprehension and impaired fluency of speech result from involvement of the Broca area in the left dominant frontal lobe. Involvement of the left frontal lobe also explains the contralateral arm weakness.

There are several types of aphasia:

  • Wernicke's aphasia: impaired comprehension, intact speech fluency and impaired repetition.
  • Broca's aphasia: intact comprehension, impaired speech fluency and impaired repetition.
  • Global aphasia: impaired comprehension, impaired speech fluency and impaired repetition.
  • Conduction aphasia: intact comprehension, intact speech fluency and impaired repetition.

Shown below is an image depicting the different areas involved in the different types of aphasia.

Educational objective:
Educational Objective: Broca's aphasia is a speech dysfunction characterized by intact comprehension, impaired speech fluency and impaired repetition. It results from damage to the inferior frontal gyrus.
References: First Aid 2014 page]]

Approved Approved::No
Keyword WBRKeyword::Aphasia, WBRKeyword::Broca's aphasia, WBRKeyword::Frontal lobe, WBRKeyword::Stroke
Linked Question Linked::
Order in Linked Questions LinkedOrder::