Q. A 35-year-old female presents to the emergency room for troubles speaking. Her daughter notes that her symptoms started two hours ago when she was eating dinner. She has a medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Her vitals are as follows: blood pressure 175/80 mmHg, heart rate 95, temperature 37.0°C, respiratory rate 10, oxygen saturation 97% on room air.
On exam, the patient is awake and alert. Cranial nerves 2-12 are intact. She does not produce spontaneous speech. She is unable to name objects or repeat sentences. She can follow simple commands. She has 5/5 strength in upper and lower extremities. Her sensation is intact to pinprick in the upper and lower extremities. Her coordination and gait are intact. Her clinical presentation is concerning for an acute stroke.
What location is most likely to be affected in this clinical scenario?