Basal Ganglia and Parkinson's Disease Flashcards
What structures make up what is known as the basal ganglia?
- Caudate nucleus
- Putamen
- Globus pallidus
- Subthalamic nucleus
- Subthalamus
- Substantia nigra
What makes up the neostriatum?
Caudate nucleus and putamen
What can the paleostriatum also be known as?
Globus pallidus
What are the functions of the basal ganglia?
- Smooth movement
- Switching behaviour
- Reward systems
- Closely linked to thalamus, cortex and limbic system
Describe the motor loop?
- All parts of cerebral cortex project to corpus striatum, basal ganglia project to thalamus, thalamus projects to cerebral cortex
What is the neurotransmitter from cortex to neostriatum?
Glutamate (excitatory)
What is the neurotransmitter for neostriatum to globus pallidus?
GABA (inhibitory)
What neurotransmitter goes from globus pallidus to thalamus?
GABA (inhibitory)
What neurotransmitter goes from the substantia nigra to neostriatum?
Dopamine
Stimulation of the direct pathway leads to what?
Movement
What is the additional step in the indirect pathway?
Globus pallidus (lateral) to subthalamus (via GABA) subthalamus then impinges on the globus palidus (medial)
Describe the direct pathway:
- Cortex to Neostriatum (glutamate)
- SN to Neostriatum (dopamine)
- Neostriatum to Globus pallidus (medial) (GABA)
- Globus Pallidus to Thalamus (GABA)
- Thalamus to cortex
What does stimulation of the indirect pathway lead to?
Inhibition of cortical areas
What are the different dopamine receptors on the neostriatum?
D1 - Direct pathway - stimulatory to direct pathway
- D2 - Indirect pathway - Inhibotory of indirect pathway
What does activation of the dopamine pathway lead to?
- Activation of the direct pathway
- Inhibition of the indirect pathway