Basal Ganglia

Question 0

Dorsal striatum made up of:

Answer 0

Caudate nucleus + putamen

Question 1

5 areas of gray matter in basal ganglia

Answer 1

1. Caudate nucleus
2. Putamen
3. Globus pallidus
4. Nucleus accumbens
5. Olfactory tubercle

Question 2

Lentiform nucleus made up of:

Answer 2

Putamen + globus pallidus

Question 3

Ventral striatum made up of:

Answer 3

Nucleus accumbens + olfactory tubercle

Question 4

Substantia niagra located in:

Answer 4

mesencephalon

Question 5

Subthalamic nucleus located:

Answer 5

junction b/w mesencephalon and diencephalon

Question 6

The caudate and putamen are separated by

Answer 6

internal capsule

Question 7

95% of neurons in basal ganglia are ____ that use ____ as their neurotransmitter. They (inhibit/excite) their target neurons. They have (high/low) spontaneous activity.

Answer 7

medium spiny neurons
GABA
Inhibit
Low (usually “quiet”)

Question 8

Two types of MSNs

Answer 8

1. Contain dynorphin and substance P, mostly D1 dopamine receptors (excitatory)
2. Contain enkephalin, mostly D2 dopamine receptors (inhibitory)

Question 9

D1 dopamine receptors are (inhibitory/excitatory)

Answer 9

Excitatory

Question 10

D2 dopamine receptors are (inhibitory/excitatory)

Answer 10

Inhibitory

Question 11

Two segments of globus pallidus

Answer 11

Internal segment (GPi)
External segment (GPe)

Question 12

Globus pallidus contain mostly ____ that contain ____ and are (inhibitory/excitatory) to their targets
They have a (high/low) rate of spontaneous activity.

Answer 12

Large neurons
GABA
Inhibitory
High (tonically active –> constitutively inhibit target neurons)

Question 13

Subthalamic nucleus contain neurons that use \_\_\_ as neurotransmitter.
STN is (inhibitory/excitatory) to \_\_\_

Answer 13

glutamate
Excitatory
GPi –> GPi is really going to inhibit target when excited by STN

Question 14

2 components of substantia nigra

Answer 14

pars compacta (SNc)
pars reticulata (SNr)

Question 15

Pars compacta (SNc) contain ____

Answer 15

dopamine synthesizing neurons

Question 16

Pars reticulata (SNr) release \_\_\_ 
Is continuous and functionally analogous to \_\_\_\_ 
Constantly active?

Answer 16

GABA
GPi
yes

Question 17

Ventral anterior (VA) nucleus
Connects:
Responsible for:

Answer 17

Thalamus with Premotor and supplement motor areas (PMA, SMA)

Planning and initiation of movement

Question 18

Mediodorsal (MD) nucleus
Connects:
Responsible for:

Answer 18

Thalamus to prefrontal cortex

Complex cognitive control over movement

Question 19

Parkinson’s disease is a ____ disorder
Characterized by:
Results in:

Answer 19

Hypokinetic = absence/slowness of movement
Progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in SNc

Loss of excitation of direct pathway MSN
Loss of inhibition of indirect pathway MSN
–> increased inhibition of thalamus

Question 20

Huntington’s chorea is a ____ disorder
Characterized by:
Results in:

Answer 20

Hyperkinetic = sudden, involuntary, purposeless jerking movements of head, limbs and trunk

Degeneration of MSNs in striatum (caudate)

Loss of inhibition in thalamus via indirect pathway

Question 21

Blood supply to basal ganglia

Answer 21

Lenticulo-striate branches of MCA

Question 22

Blood supply to globus pallidus

Answer 22

Anterior choroidal artery