A stroke (cerebrovascular accident) primarily affects which organ?

• A. Heart
• B. Lungs
• C. Brain
• D. Liver

Answer: (C)

A stroke directly disrupts blood flow to the brain, so the brain is the organ primarily affected. The brain requires a constant supply of oxygen and glucose and cannot store much energy, so brain cells start to die within minutes of reduced perfusion. This injury leads to the sudden neurological deficits you see with a stroke, such as weakness, speech trouble, or facial droop. There are two main types—ischemic, from a blocked vessel, and hemorrhagic, from a bleed—both injuring brain tissue where blood flow is interrupted. The heart, lungs, and liver aren’t the primary targets of a stroke, though they can be affected indirectly by complications after the event.