Functions and location of the motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, occipital cortex, Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas, auditory cortex; functions of the cerebellum

1.      A 77-year-old woman was cooking in the kitchen when she collapsed onto the floor. Her daughter called an ambulance and the woman was taken to the emergency room. She had suffered a stroke, and slowly regained consciousness over the next two days. However, when she woke up, she had the following signs and symptoms:

- Paralysis of the right face and arm

- Loss of sensation to touch on the skin of the right face and arm

- Inability to answer questions but ability to understand what was said to her

- Ability to write down her thoughts more easily than to speak them

Based upon the patient's symptoms, why was she paralyzed in the right face and arm? What is the name of her language disorder, and what caused it?

2.      An 81-year-old man and avid reader had a mild stroke from which he eventually recovered. He did have some residual signs and symptoms, however, such as:

Right-sided homonymous hemianopia (i.e. loss of vision on the right half of the visual field in each eye)

Why was this man unable to see the right half of his field of vision? Was there something wrong with his eyes?

3.      The auditory cortex is located in the

a)      Frontal lobe

b)     Parietal lobe

c)      Temporal lobe

d)     Occipital lobe

4.      A 7-year-old girl was referred to the neurologist because of unsteadiness. Over the previous 3 months, the child had increasing difficulties with balance and, eventually, with the use of her right arm. The week prior to evaluation, she had developed severe morning headaches associated with nausea and vomiting. Based upon your Anatomy studies, what area of the brain is most likely affected in this patient?

a)      Broca’s area

b)     Primary sensory cortex

c)      Frontal lobe

d)     Temporal lobe

e)      Occipital lobe

f)       Cerebellum

g)      Wernicke’s area

h)     Corpus callosum

i)        Hypothalamus

j)       Thalamus

Answers