Basal Ganglia

Question 1

Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 1

sx: bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity, masked face, reptile gaze, glabellar reflex, postural embarassment, autonomic effects, cognitive changes
degeneration: of substantia nigra, globus pallidus, brainstem RF, postganglionic symph nerves

Question 2

Huntington’s Chorea

Answer 2

sx: choreiform movements, severe dementia, choreoathetosis, behavioral disturbances
degeneration: of corpus striatum, cerebrum = causes excess DA on degenerated striatum or loss of inhibition from GABA neurons of striatonigral path

Question 3

Hemichorea

Answer 3

sx: unilteral choreiform movements
lesions: vascular lesions of basal ganglia

Question 4

Athetosis

Answer 4

sx: slow, involuntary writhing movement of limbs and face

degeneration of: striatum

Question 5

Hemiballism

Answer 5

sx: contralateral violent, flailing movement of proximal muscles of both upper and lower extremities
lesions: unilateral lesions of subthalamus cause reduction of glutamate inhibition of globus pallidus

Question 6

Dystonia

Answer 6

• muscles contract or spasm involuntarily
• twisting, repetitive and patterned movements as well as abnormal postures
• lesions: basal ganglia