Basal Ganglia – derived from telencephalon/ some

diencephalon/mesencephalon

Structure:
Striatum:
Caudate Nucleus
Putamen
Globus Pallidus
External/Lateral Segment GPe
Internal/Medial Segment GPi
*Lentiform/Lenticular Nucleus: Putamen and Globus
Pallidus
*Corpus Striatum: Caudate
Nucleus/Putamen/Globus Pallidus
Substantia Nigra
-pars compacta DOPAMINERGIC – dorsal SNc
- pars reticulate GABAergic – ventral SNr
Subthalamic Nucleus
Nucleus Accumbens – ventral Striatum-
DOPAMINERGIC

Blood Supply:
Anertior Cerebral
Middle Cerebral
Posterior Communicating

SYNAPTIC CIRCUITS/ NEUROTRANSMITTERS

1. Cortex- (glutamate)Striatum (Ach, Gaba, enkephalin,
substance P
2. Direct Pathway: Thalamus disinhibited/Excited; movement is facilitated
Striatum(GABA/Substance P)GPi & SNr (GABA) Thalamus Premotor & SMA
3. Indirect Pathway: Thalamus is inhibited and movement is inhibited
Striatum( GABA& Enkephalin)GPe (GABA) subthalamic Nucleus (glutamate) GPe, GPi& SNr
(GABA)ThalamusPremotor & SMA
4. Nigrostriatal Pathway: dopaminergic; facilitates movement by acting on bot indirect/direct
pathways
 5. Dopamine Affects 2 Different output Neurones in the Striatum:
-D1 Dopamine Receptors : Excite Direct Pathway Movement
-D2 Dopamine Receptors: Inhibit Indirect PathwayMovement
(inhibit the inhibitory pathway/disinhibition)
*DOPAMINE Indirect/Direct Pathway= MOVEMENT

MAJOR CONNECTIONS OF THE BASAL GANGLIA

A. Connections OUTSIDE the basal Ganglia

Extrinsic inputs to the basal ganglia terminate mainly in the striatum
FROM:
1. Corticostrial Pathway- Cerebral Cortex (motor, sensory,
association, limbic): topographical projections
2. Intralaminar Nuclei of the Thalamus: topographically organized
 Extrinsic Outputs from the basal ganglia arise mainly from the globus paliidus and substantia
nigra pars reticula TO:
1. Motor Nuclei of the Thalamus
2. Superior Colliculous of the Midbrain

B. Connections within the Basal Ganglia

1. Caudate and Putamen:
• Striatopallidal pathway :Project to globus pallidus
• Nigrostriatal/ Striatonigral Pathway: Reciprocally connect with substantia nigra
○ SNcStriatumSNr
2. Subthalamic Nucleus
• Receives input from the motor and premotor corticies
• Reciprocally connected with the globus pallidus
• Projects to substantia nigra, pars reticulate
3. Substantia Nigra:
• Receives from and projects to the striatum
General Functional Significance of the Basal Ganglia
A. Involved in the regulation of movement: through direct and indirect connections with the
cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia influence descending motor systems (e.g., corticospinal and
corticobulbar).
B. Forms the major component of the extrapyramidal motor system; however, there is extensive
interconnections and cooperation between the extrapyramidal and the pyramidal systems in the
control of movement.
C. Involved in the control of eye movements and in the memory of orientation in space.
D. Contributes to cognition.
E. Related to limbic functions.

Dysfunctions of the Basal Ganglia : Abnormal movements are commonly caused by a

release
of the system from inhibition. Disorders of the basal ganglia is usually a disruption of
transmitter metabolism.
• Involuntary movements: Tremor at rest (Parkinsons), Athetosis (slow movement), Chorea,
Ballism, Dystonia (disordered movement). Akinesia (loss of movement) and bradykinesia
(slow movement)
• Changes in posture & muscle tone/ Muscle rigidity

Diseases of Basal Ganglia:

1. Parkinson’s Disease (too few movements)
• Degeneration of dopaminergic cells in SNc
• Tremor at rest, rigidity, bradykinesia
2. Huntington’ s Disease (too many movements)
• Degerenation of Ach and GABA neurons in the striatum
 • Inherited mutation in chrom. 4 causes numerous CAG repeats (Glutamine) more
repeates=earlier onset
• Chorea, athetosis, dystonia
3. Tardive Dyskinesia : long term use of antipsychotic agents (block dopaminergic
transmission)
• Involuntary movements of face/ tongue
4. Hemiballismus: Lesion of the subthalamic nucleus
• Violent ball throwing movements of contralateral arm

COMPARISONS
CEREBELLUM BASAL GANGLIA
• Direct input from Spinal cord NONE
• No direct output to Spinal Cord No direct output to spinal
cord
• Connections with Brainstem Connects w/ and is part
of Brainstem
• Indirect input from cortex via Pons (motot/premotor) Direct input from wide
areas of Cortex
• Projects via thalamuscortex Projects via thalamus
cortex
• Output is Excitatory Output is inhibitory
Deep cerebella nuclei internal segment of globus
palludus
• Coordinates Execution of movement : Planning/Execution of
complex motor
compares intended w/executed strategies: Amplitude/Velocity of
movement
• LesionIpsilateral Symptoms LesionContrallateral
/Bilateral
• Ataxia, Impaired balance, Eye movements Too much/too little
movement
• Intentional Tremor Tremor at Rest