Basal Ganglia Flashcards
Define basal ganglia
Collection of grey matter nuclei located deep within the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres
Components of basal ganglia
Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Globes pallidus (externus and internus)
Subthalamic nucleus
Substantial nigra
What makes up the striatum
Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Functions of basal ganglia
Inhibits or facilitates voluntary movements
Determines speed / size of movements
Decreases / regulates muscle tone
What tract is involved with the basal ganglia
Pyramidal tract
What is an excitatory neurotransmitter
Glutamate
What is an inhibitory neurotransmitter
GABA
What’s the mnemonic for the direct pathway
MSIT
Whats the sentence mnemonic for the direct pathway
Comes straight into thalamus
What is the contents and order of the direct pathway
Motor cortex
Striatum
Internus (globus pallidus)
Thalamus
In the direct pathway, where does glutamate work
From motor cortex to the striatum
From the thalamus loops back to the motor cortex
In the direct pathway where does GABA work
From the striatum to the internus globus pallidus then straight to the thalamus
True or false - the direct pathway turns ON the thing that causes inhibition
FALSE - it turns it off
Does the direct pathway turn on or off the motor cortex
On
Function of the indirect pathway
Terminates motor activity (movement)