Lecture 4 (basal Ganglia) Flashcards
Parkinson’s is more problematic because of indirect or direct pathway?
Direct
Huntington’s disease is more problematic in an indirect or direct pathway?
Indirect
BG pathology - movement speed (9)
Bradykinesia/hypokinesia
Rigidity
Dystonia
Athetosis
Chorea
Ballismus
Tics
Myoclonus
Tremor
What is rigidity?
Feel muscles contract but can’t move them
What is dystonia? Characteristics
Quick and jerky movements
Generalized, unilateral, focus torticollis, no exact found lesion found
What is ballismus? What is hemiballismus?
Wild jerkiness
Hemiballismus: unilateral flinging contralateral to lesion of BG
Classic cause is infarct of subthalamic nucleus
What causes dyskinesia?
Loss of function - neurotransmitter dopamine
Loss of (-) pathways from striatum
Loss of automatic movements
What is athetosis? What conditions is it seen in?
Twisting of limbs, face and trunk
Seen in Huntington’s, perinatal anoxia, kernicterus
What is chorea?
Continuous involuntary movement
Jerk, constantly varying quality
Increases with ambulation
What are tics?
Tourette’s syndrome
-4x more in girls than boys
-increased in ADHD
-symptoms wax and wane
Describe what a tremor is. What types are there?
Agonist and antagonist involved
Bidirectional movement
Asymmetrical - intoning tremor with PD
Resting tremor, postural tremor and intention tremor
What is lead pipe rigidity?
Resistive/tight throughout whole motion
Agonist and antagonist involved
What is cogwheel rigidity?
-ratchet like interruptions as the limb is moved passively
-normal stx reflexes
-shoulders and cervical first affected
What causes Parkinson’s?
Loss of dopamine production in substantia nigra
What are some characteristics of PD?
Festinating gait
Difficulty turning corners
Kyphotic posture
Gait impediments coincide with visual, decision making and motor control deficits
Freeze with impediments
Resting tremors
