Which cerebral artery and side are typically affected in a patient presenting with global aphasia, and what are the key diagnostic features?

Global aphasia is most commonly associated with an infarct in the left middle cerebral artery (MCA), specifically involving the hemispheric branch. Key diagnostic features include severe impairment in both expressive and receptive language abilities, often accompanied by right-sided hemiparesis due to the involvement of the motor cortex. Clinical pearls include recognizing that global aphasia results from extensive damage to both Broca's and Wernicke's areas. A common pitfall is confusing global aphasia with other types of aphasia that may have more selective language deficits.