Lecture 11 - Somatic Motor System: Subcortical Systems Flashcards
What are subcortical motor systems? Name the 3.
Motor systems below the motor cortex in the brain:
- Basal ganglia
- Pons
- Cerebellum
How does the motor cortex interact with subcortical motor systems? What is the purpose of this?
There are reciprocal connections between the 2 creating feedback loops
Purpose: to modify the activity in the motor cortex to regulate initiation of movement or refine it
Describe the pathway from the basal ganglia to the motor cortex.
Through the the ventral lateral pars oralis of the thalamus
Describe the pathway from the pons and cerebellum to the motor cortex.
Through the the ventral lateral pars caudalis of the thalamus
What is the main purpose of the feedback of the basal ganglia on the motor cortex?
Inhibit unwanted movement
List the 5 structures of the basal ganglia.
- Caudate nucleus 2. Putamen 3. Globus pallidus 4. Subthalamic nucleus 5. Substantia nigra
What does the striatum of the basal ganglia contain?
- Caudate nucleus 2. Putamen
Label the basal ganglia.
Cortex to striatum of basal ganglia: excitatory or inhibitory?
Excitatory
What are the 2 parts of the globus pallidus?
- Internus
- Externus
Striatum to globus pallidus internus AND externus: excitatory or inhibitory?
Inhibitory
Globus pallidus externus of basal ganglia on subthalamic nucleus: excitatory or inhibitory?
Inhibitory
Globus pallidus internus of basal ganglia on thalamus: excitatory or inhibitory?
Inhibitory
Subthalamic nucleus of basal ganglia on globus pallidus internus: excitatory or inhibitory?
Excitatory
Subthalamic nucleus of basal ganglia on substantia nigra excitatory or inhibitory?
Excitatory
Substantia nigra of basal ganglia on thalamus: excitatory or inhibitory?
Inhibitory
Thalamus on cortex: excitatory or inhibitory?
Excitatory
What is the input nucleus of the basal ganglia?
Striatum
What is the output nucleus of the basal ganglia?
Globus pallidus internus
What 2 inputs does the striatum of the basal ganglia receive?
Type and source
- Glutamergic input from corticostriatal tract
- Dopaminergic from substantia nigra
What output does the globus pallidus internus of the basal ganglia send out?
Type, target, and pathway
Gabaergic output to the motor cortex via the ventral lateral pars oralis of the thalamus
What output does the striatum of the basal ganglia send out?
Type and targets?
Gabaergic to:
- Globus pallidus internus
- Globus pallidus externus
- Substantia nigra
What are the consequences of the activation of the DIRECT pathway of the basal ganglia?
GPi inhibition → Decrease in basal ganglia output → Increase in motor behavior
What are the consequences of the activation of the INDIRECT pathway of the basal ganglia?
GPi activation → Increase in basal ganglia output → Decrease in motor behavior
Describe the direct pathway of the basal ganglia.
Subthalamic nucleus stimulates substantia nigra → Motor cortex and substantia nigra stimulate striatum → Striatum inhibits GPi → Decreased GPi inhibition of the the ventral lateral pars oralis of the thalamus → Thalamus stimulates motor cortex
Describe the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia.
Motor cortex stimulates striatum → Striatum inhibits GPe → Decrease of GPe inhibition of subthalamic nucleus → Subthalamic nucleus stimulates GPi → GPi inhibits ventral lateral pars oralis of the thalamus → Decreased stimulation of motor cortex by thalamus
Describe what happens in the basal ganglia pathways in Parkinson’s disease.
Damage to dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra:
- Substantia nigra cannot activate the direct pathway through dopamine D1 receptors to cause increased motor activity (PRIMARILY)
- Substantia nigra cannot inhibit the indirect pathway through dopamine D2 receptors
RESULT: decreased voluntary muscle movements
What are D1 and D2? Describe how they work.
2 dopamine receptor subtypes on the striatum:
- D1 + dopamine = stratium stimulation to inhibit GPi MORE = more muscle movements
- D2 + dopamine = striatum inhibition = stratium stimulation to inhibit GPe = less muscle movements
What are the 4 symtoms of Parkinson’s?
- Hypokinesia/Akinesia
- Rigidity
- Tremor
- Bradykinesia
What is ataxia?
What is it due to?
Loss of coordination
Cerebellum damage