Basal Ganglia and Thalamus Flashcards
Lentiform Nucleus Components
Putamen
Globus Pallidus
Striatum Components
Caudate Nucleus
Putamen
Corpus Striatum
Caudate Nucleus
Putamen
Globus Pallidus
Basal Ganglia Functions (6)
- Integrates feeling and movement
- Initiates internally generated movements
- Shifts and smoothes fine motor behavior
- Suppresses unwanted motor behaviors
- Enhances motivation
- Allows feelings of pleasure/ecstasy
Function: Claustrum
Regulation of Emotion and Sexual Arousal
Function: Substantia Nigra
Neurons are dopaminergic and inhibitory and have many connections to the corpus striatum
Function: Subthalamic Nuclei of Luys
Neurons are glutaminergic and excitatory and have many connections to the globus pallidus and substantia nigra
Location: Extra-pyramidal System
Motor System
Location: Extra-pyramidal Tracts
Reticular Formation of Pons and Medulla
Afferent Fibers (3)
- Corticostriate Fibers
- Nigrostriate Fibers
- Striatopallidal Fibers
Neurotranmitters of:
- Corticostriate Fibers
- Nigrostriate Fibers
- Striatopallidal Fibers
- Glutamate
- Dopamine
- GABA
Is Dopamine an excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitter?
Both!
Dopamine is both an excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter. Dopaminergic projections excite striatal cells of the direct (excitatory) loop through the D1 receptors in these cells, and they inhibit striatal cells of the indirect (inhibitory) loop through D2 receptors on these cells.

Efferent Fibers (1)
Pallidofugal Fibers
Globus Pallidus -> Thalamus
Where do the divisions of these Pallidofugal Fibers pass to?
- Ansa Lenticularis
- Fasciculus Lenticularis
- Pallidotegmental Fibers
- Pallidosubthalamic Fibers
- Thalamic Nuclei
- Subthalamus
- Terminate in the caudal tegmentum of the midbrain
- Subthalamic Nuclei
[Identify]
Quick, lightning-fast movements of face and upper extremities
Tic
[Identify]
Oscillatory, rhythmic, regular movement affecting one or more body parts
Tremor
[Identify]
Involuntary, irregular, purposeless, non- rhythmic, abrupt, rapid, unsustained movements that seem to flow from one body part to another
Chorea
[Identify]
Slow, writhing, continuous involuntary movement
Athetosis
[Identify]
Very large amplitude choreic movements of the proximal parts of the limbs causing flinging and flailing of limbs
Ballismus
[Identify]
Twisting movements that tend to be sustained at the peak of the movement, frequently repetitive and often progress to prolonged abnormal postures
Dystonia
[Identify]
Sudden, brief, shock-like involuntary movements caused by muscular contractions
Myoclonus
Clinical Features of Parkinson’s Disease
TRAP
o Tremors at rest
o Rigidity
o Akinesia/ bradykinesia
o Postural instability
Function: Habenula
Food and Water Intake
Which thalamic nucleus does not send axons to the cerebral cortex?
Reticular Nucleus
Two Sensor-Motor Axonal Loops Necessary for Normal Voluntary Movement Involving the Cerebellum and Basal Nuclei
Cerebellar-rubro-thalamic-cortico-ponto-cerebellar Loop
Cortical-strial-pallidal-thalamic-cortical Loop
