A SEMINAR PRESENTATION

ON
BASAL GANGLIA AND THEIR
CONNECTIONS

ANA 803

BY
KEHINDE, Kolawole Adesina 
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN ANATOMY
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES
AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY 
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March, 2021
 Basal Ganglia

 Definition
 Structures
 Functions
 Pathways
 Clinical notes

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 Definition
The basal ganglia are a group of subcortical structures
found deep within the white matter of the brain. They
form a part of the extra pyramidal motor system,
working with the pyramidal and limbic system.
Consist of 5 pairs of nuclei:
 Caudate nuclei

 Putamen

 Globus pallidus

 Subthalamic nuclei

 Substantia nigra.

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Basal Ganglia

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 Structues
These nuclei are grouped into broader clusters:
 Striatum: which consist of the dorsal striatum

(caudate nucleus and putamen) and the ventral

(nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercule)
 Global pallidus: consist of the internal (GPi)

and external segment (GPe).

 Subthalamic nucleus

 Substantia nigra

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 Functions
Their function is to fine tune the voluntary
movements by receiving impulses from the
cerebral cortex, which they process and adjust.
They are also involved in memory/learning, eye
movement, cognition and emotion, reward
processing and motivation.

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Pathways

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 Pathways Cont’d
 Direct Pathway (Excitatory): Cerebral cortex sends
excitatory projections to the striatum, then the
striatum sends inhibitory projections to the GPi which
sends inhibitory projections to the thalamus. The
thalamus is free to send excitatory projections to the
motor cortex which initiate voluntary movements.
 Indirect Pathway (Inhibitory): CC sends excitatory
projections to the striatum, striatum sends inhibitory
projections to the GPe, which sends inhibitory
projections to the subthalamic nucleus. Subthalamic
nucleus sends excitatory projections to the GPi which
is able to inhibit the thalamus.
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 Dopamine
 Substantia nigra release dopamine into the
striatum, acts on both the direct and indirect
pathways but with opposite effects at the same
time.
 Through D1 receptors (excitatory) that activates
the direct pathway through GPi and the D2
receptors (inhibitory) inhibits the indirect
pathway through the GPe. The action of
dopamine favours excitatory projections to the
motor cortex to reinforce desired movement.

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 Clinical notes
 Degeneration of the basal ganglia can lead to several
neurological conditions, characteristically movement
disorders like:
 Hypokinesia or hyperkinesia

 Bradykinesia

 Muscle Rigidity

 Postural instability

 Shuffling gait

 Resting tremors

As seen in Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington Disease,

even Tourette Syndrome.
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 THANK
YOU
FOR LISTENING
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