40 Basal ganglia

Question 1

(Neo)Striatum = ________ + _______?

Answer 1

Putamen + Caudate nucleus

Question 2

Lentiform nucleus = ________ + _______?

Answer 2

Putamen + Globus pallidus

Question 3

Corpus striatum = ?

Answer 3

Putamen + caudate nucleus + globus pallidus

Question 4

______________ separates the thalamus and caudate nucleus on the medial side, and the putamen and globus pallidus on the lateral side.

Answer 4

Internal capsule

Question 5

Internal capsule separates _________________ on the medial side and the putamen and globus pallidus on the lateral side.

Answer 5

thalamus and caudate nucleus

Question 6

Internal capsule separates the thalamus and caudate nucleus on the medial side, and ____________ on the lateral side.

Answer 6

Globus pallidus and putamen

Question 7

Which of the following are parts of the basal ganglia?
A. Neostriatum
B. Substantia nigra
C. Subthalamic nucleus 
D. Amygdala
E.  Lentiform nucleus
F. Red nucleus

Answer 7

All except D and F

they are neighboring structures
- VTA
- geniculate bodies
- hypothalamus  
etc.

Question 8

In coronal section, where is the red nucleus located relative to the thalamus and substantia nigra?

Answer 8

In between,

inferior to thalamus, superior to substantia nigra

Question 9

In coronal section, where is the caudate nucleus relative to the thalamus?

Answer 9

more superior and lateral to the thalamus

Question 10

Which part of the substantia nigra is more lateral in the midbrain?

Answer 10

Reticular part is more lateral than the compact part

Question 11

Arrange from medial to lateral, the position of subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra and the red nucleus in the midbrain-diencephalon junction.

Answer 11

red nucleus > subthalamic nucleus > substantia nigra compact part > substantia nigra reticular part

Question 12

Afferent connections of the striatum?

Answer 12

1. corico-striae
2. nigro-striae (substantia nigra)
3. thalamo-striae

Question 13

Efferent connections of the striatum?

Answer 13

1. Strio-nigral

2. Strio-pallidal

Question 14

Afferent connections of the globus pallidus?

Answer 14

1. Strio-pallidal

2. Subthalamic fasciculus (from subthalamic nucleus to GP)

Question 15

Efferent connections of the globus pallidus?

Answer 15

1. Subthalamic fasciculus (from GP to subthalamic nucleus)
2. Thalamic fasciculus (travel in front of red nucleus)
   - lenticular fasciculus (GPi > thalamus)
   - ansa lenticularis (subthalamic nucleus + GPi > thalamus)

Question 16

In the thalamus _________ and _________nuclei receive afferents from globus pallidus and project to the frontal cortex.

Answer 16

ventral anterior and ventral lateral nuclei

Question 17

_______________ nuclei in the thalamus receive afferents from the ARAS (ascending reticular activating system) and project to the striatum.

Answer 17

Intralaminar nuclei

Question 18

DA projections from SNc ________ striatum neurons that have D1 receptors.

Answer 18

excite

Question 19

DA projections from SNc ________ striatum neurons that have D2 receptors.

Answer 19

inhibit

Question 20

What is the NT involved in subthalamic nucleus and what is its effect?

Answer 20

Glutamine, to GPi and SNr

Question 21

Give the 3 functions of connections of the basal ganglia.

Answer 21

1. Initiation: response occurs to initiate a movement
2. Selection and sequencing: motor areas interact with basal ganglia to select muscle activities by disinhibition for the required movement, and arrange them in order
3. Output: returns a plan to specific cortical area for the required movement

Question 22

Suggest 3 alterations from other parts of the brain to the basal ganglia.

Answer 22

1. Limbic system: affect striatum
2. Thalamostriatal projection: thalamus affected the striatum, initiate a pause in activity, enable switching from an ongoing behavior to another one
3. ARAS: affect thalamus

Question 23

Reason for hypokinesia?

Answer 23

Degradation at the substantia nigra compacta, increased output from SNr and Gpi
(indirect > direct loop)

Question 24

Reason for hyperkinesia?

Answer 24

1. Degradation of the subthalamic nuclei > decreased inhibitory outputs from GPi and SNr.
2. Affected D2 neurons

Question 25

Symptoms in cerebral palsy?

Answer 25

1. Athetosis (ceaseless slow, sinuous movements especially in hands)
2. Dystonia (increased muscle tone and abnormal fixed postural of trunk and limbs)

Question 26

What is Tourette syndrome?

Answer 26

1. physical and vocal tics (repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics)
2. Minority: foul utterance

Question 27

Features of __________:

1. dominant inheritance
2. Choreoathetosis
3. Dementia

Answer 27

Huntington’s chorea