Basal ganglia

Question 1

What are the basal ganglia?

Answer 1

Groups of gray matter within the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres

Question 2

What are the general functions of the basal ganglia?

Answer 2

Decision to move
Direction of movement
Amplitude of movement
Motor expression of emotions

Question 3

What are the 3 general components of basal ganglia?

Answer 3

Corpus striatum
Amygdaloid body
Claustrum

Question 4

What are some other nuclei functionally related to the basal ganglia?

Answer 4

Subthalamic nuclei
Nucleus accumben’s
Substantia nigra

Question 5

What makes up the lentiform nucleus?

Answer 5

Putamen
Globus pallidus

Question 6

What are the 5 major nuclei of the basal ganglia?

Answer 6

Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Globus pallidus
Substantia nigra
Subthalamic nucleus

Question 7

Where is the head of the caudate nucleus located?

Answer 7

Floor of the lateral ventricle

Question 8

Where is the tail of the caudate nucleus located?

Answer 8

Roof of the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle

Question 9

What is the caudate nucleus lateral to?

Answer 9

Thalamus
Lateral ventricle

Question 10

What is the caudate nucleus media to?

Answer 10

Internal capsule

Question 11

What are the general functions of the caudate nucleus?

Answer 11

Body posture
Accuracy of directed movements
Memory
Learning
Emotions

Question 12

What is the location of the substantia nigra?

Answer 12

Midbrain between cerebral peduncle and red nucleus

Question 13

What are the 2 parts of the substantia nigra?

Answer 13

Dorsal part - pars compacta
Ventral part - pars reticularis

Question 14

What are the general functions of the amygdaloid body?

Answer 14

Autonomic responses associated with fear
Emotional response
Processing memory

Question 15

What would be the result of a lesion in the amygdaloid body?

Answer 15

Lack of emotional response

Question 16

What is the location of the amygdaloid body?

Answer 16

Temporal lobes
Related to anterior end of inferior horn of lateral ventricles

Question 17

What is the locations of the claustrum?

Answer 17

Lateral to the lentiform nucleus, separated by external capsule

Question 18

What is the location of the subthalamic nucleus?

Answer 18

Dorsomedial to posterior limb of the internal capsule and dorsal to substantia nigra

Question 19

What is the result of a subthalamic nucleus lesion?

Answer 19

Hemiballismus

Question 20

What arteries give off branches to the basal ganglia?

Answer 20

Anterior cerebral A
Middle cerebral A
Posterior cerebral A

Question 21

What are the main afferents to the basal ganglia?

Answer 21

Caudate nucleus
Putamen/striatum

Question 22

What are the main efferent centers of the basal ganglia?

Answer 22

Internal segment of the globus pallidus

Question 23

What are the afferents to the basal ganglia?

Answer 23

Corticostriate fibers
Nigrostriatal fibers
Thalamostriate fibers
Brainstem striatal fibers

Question 24

What is the NT of corticostriate fibers?

Answer 24

Glutamate - excitatory

Question 25

What is the NT of nigrostriatal fibers?

Answer 25

Dopamine

Question 26

What is the NT of thalamostriate fibers?

Answer 26

Glutamate - excitatory

Question 27

What is the NT of brainstem striatal fibers?

Answer 27

Serotonin

Question 28

What are the main efferents of the basal ganglia?

Answer 28

Striatopallidal fibers Striatonigral fibers

Question 29

What is the NT of the striatopallidal fibers?

Answer 29

GABA

Question 30

What are the NTs of the striatonigral fibers?

Answer 30

GABA Ach Substance P

Question 31

What is the direct pathway of the basal ganglia?

Answer 31

Cortex to striatum with glutamate Striatum to internal segment of globus pallidus with GABA Globus pallidus to thalamus with GABA Thalamus to supplementary motor area with glutamate

Question 32

What is the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia?

Answer 32

Cortex to striatum with glutamate Striatum to external segment of globus pallidus with GABA Globus pallidus to subthalamic nucleus with GABA Subthalamic nucleus to internal segment of globus pallidus with glutamate Globus pallidus to thalamus with GABA Thalamus to supplementary motor area with glutamate

Question 33

What is the main difference between indirect and direct pathways of basal ganglia?

Answer 33

Direct - excitatory Indirect - inhibitory

Question 34

What is the result from a lesion of the caudate nucleus?

Answer 34

Chorea

Question 35

What are signs and symptoms of Huntington's disease?

Answer 35

Choreiform movements Progressive dementia

Question 36

What is associated with rheumatic fever?

Answer 36

Sydenham chorea

Question 37

What is the inheritance of Huntington's disease?

Answer 37

Autosomal dominant

Question 38

What is found on a brain CT in Huntington's disease?

Answer 38

Enlarged lateral ventricle

Question 39

What is the sign of a lesion of the globus pallidus?

Answer 39

Athetosis

Question 40

What are the signs of Parkinson's disease?

Answer 40

Resting tremor Rigidity - cogwheel Pill rolling in hands Loss of facial expression Stiff, shuffling gait Stooped posture General slowing of movements Bradykinesia

Question 41

Where do corticostriate fibers originate from?

Answer 41

From cortex, generally from same side

Question 42

Where do thalamostriate fibers originate from?

Answer 42

Intralaminar nuclei of thalamus

Question 43

What are the divisions of the pallidofugal fibers?

Answer 43

Ansa lenticularis Fasciculus lenticularis Pallidotegmental fibers Pallidosubthalamic fibers

Question 44

What is not associated with lesions of the basal ganglia?

Answer 44

Paralysis

Question 45

Is basal ganglia dysfunction ipsilateral or contralateral?

Answer 45

Contralateral

Question 46

What are the 3 general types of tremors?

Answer 46

Postural - essential Rest Intention

Question 47

What are diseases associated with chorea?

Answer 47

Huntingon's disease Sydenham chorea Wilson's disease Chorea gravidarum

Question 48

What is ballismus?

Answer 48

Uncontrollable, unconscious, large amplitude movement

Question 49

What is athetosis?

Answer 49

Slow, sinuous, writhing movements most common in distal limbs

Question 50

What are choreiform movements?

Answer 50

Spontaneous, uncontrolled, nonrepetitive, involuntary, quick, jerky, irregular movements

Question 51

What are the 3 brainstem nuclei associated with proper emotional and cognitive behavior?

Answer 51

Locus ceruleus Midbrain raphe Midbrain tegmentum

Question 52

What is caused by a substantia nigra lesion?

Answer 52

Parkinson's disease

Question 53

What are general characteristics of basal ganglia lesions?

Answer 53

No paralysis Rigidity No atrophy No fasciculations Dystonia Tremor