Basal Ganglia

aka Basal Nuclei

Dept. of Anatomy,
GMCS
 Intro and Components
Basal Ganglia are large masses of grey matter
situated within the white core of each Cerebral
hemisphere.
Components :
Anatomically – Corpus Striatum, Claustrum
and Amygdaloid body
Functionally – Substantia Nigra and Sub
thalamus.
 Corpus Striatum
Subcortical masses of grey matter situated in
white core.
It is divided into 2 parts by band of nerve
fibres called the internal capsule.
Components –
1.Caudate Nucleus
2.Lenticular Nucleus
 Caudate Nucleus
Large Comma shaped mass of grey matter
which surrounds |Thalamus and is itself
surrounded by Lateral Ventricle.
Consists of Head,body and
tail.
 Lenticular Nucleus
Large biconvex lens shaped mass of grey matter
beneath the insula. Horizontal section appears
wedge shaped.
It has 3 surfaces –Lateral,medial
and inferior.
2 parts -
1.Putamen – Large lateral part,
consists of densely packed cells
and is darker in colour.
 2.Globus Pallidus – Smaller medial part, lighter
in colour and consists of large (motor) cells.
It is further subdivided
into external and
internal segments.
 Subthalamic Nucleus
Biconvex mass of grey matter located caudal
to lateral half of Thalamus & inferomedial to
Globus pallidus.
Separated from Thalamus
by a smaller nucleus –
zona inserta.
Claustrum & Amygdaloid Body
Claustrum is a thin saucer shaped mass of
grey matter between putamen and Insula.

Amygdaloid body is almond shaped mass of

grey matter lying anterosuperior to inf. horn of
lateral ventricle. Developmentally it is related
to basal ganglia but functionally it is included
in the limbic system.
 Substantia Nigra
It is large motor nucleus that extends throughout
the length of midbrain. It is made up of deeply
pigmented nerve cells which contain Melanin and
iron.
2 parts – 1.Pars Compacta
Contains Dopaminergic &
cholinergic neurons.
2. Pars Reticularis– Contains
GABAnergic Neurons.
 Connections
The striatum is receptive part while Globus
pallidus is efferent part of Corpus Striatum.
Afferent Connections :
1.Corticostriate fibres – Cerebral cortex to Striatum
2.Thalamostriate fibres–Thalamus to
Striatum(Putamen)
3.Nigrostriate fibres – Substantia nigra to Striatum
Efferent Connections :
Most of the output of Corpus striatum goes to
Globus pallidus, however some efferents also go to
Substantia nigra.
 Functions of Basal Ganglia
Concerned with planning & programming of
voluntary movements.
Determine how rapidly a movement is to be
performed & how large movement must be.
Decrease muscle tone & inhibit unwanted
muscular activity.
Regulate muscle tone & help in smoothening
voluntary motor activities.
 Functions of Basal Ganglia
Control automatic associated movements like
swinging of arms while walking.
Control group of movements for emotional
expression.
Control reflex motor activity.
Neural Circuitry of BG
 Clinical Correlations
Parkinsonism – Occurs after 50 yrs. due to
deficiency of dopamine in corpus striatum due to
lesion in substantia nigra or nigrostriate fibres.
Main triad of symptoms –
tremors, rigidity &
akinesia.
Others – Resting tremors,
cogwheel rigidity ,general
slowing down of movements.
Chorea – Characterized by quick, jerky, irregular
purposeless involuntary movements of mainly
tongue, face & limbs. Types – Sydenham’s Chorea
& Huntington’s Chorea.
Athetosis – Slow, sinuous, writhing movements
commonly of distal segments of limbs. Occurs due
to lesions in Negro-striatum & Globus pallidus.
Ballismus – Violent bursts of irregular movements
in trunk, girdles & proximal extremities. Types –
Monoballismus & Hemiballismus.
It is due to vascular lesions of subthalamic nucleus.
Thank You !