Vertebrobasilar System
Systems of Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)

The Vertebrobasilar System feeds primarily the posterior brain structures. TIA's in this distribution may cause symptoms that are sometimes referred to as "drop attacks" and are characterized by the rapid onset of symptoms and may include:

• Syncope (fainting)
  
  
• Weakness, paralysis, or clumsiness of the arms or legs and fact. This can be on the left, right, or both sides.
  
  
• Loss of feeling, numbness, abnormal skin sensation that can involve one of both sides of the body.
  
  
• Loss of vision in one or both eyes.
  
  
• Loss of balance, dizziness, unsteadiness, double vision, trouble swallowing, difficulty saying words clearly. These should not be considered a TIA if only one symptom occurs.

It is difficult to be certain if a TIA has happened if only a single attack has occurred and is not accompanied by other symptoms. However, it is common to experience amaurosis fugax without other symptoms. Some patients have only episodes of aphasia.