BASAL NUCLEI (Basal Ganglia)
Basal Nuclei Components Substantia nigra (within the midbrain) Subthalamic nuclei (diencephalon) Corpus striatum Red nucleus (?) Claustrum (?) Nucleus accumbens (?)
Corpus Striatum Composed of caudate nucleus + lentiform nucleus: Striatum = caudate nucleus + putamen. Pallidum = globus pallidus. Putamen + globus pallidus = lentiform nucleus. Controls large subconscious movements of the skeletal muscles. The globus pallidus regulates muscle tone.
Corpus Striatum
Substantia Nigra Subdivisions Dorsal pars compacta: Has melanin containing neurons and dopaminergic neurons. Ventral pars reticularis: Has iron-containing glial cells. Has serotonin and GABA (no melanin).
Substantial Nigra
Input Nuclei Striatum Receive widespread input from: Caudate nucleus Putamen Nucleus accumbens Receive widespread input from: Neocortex Intralaminar nuclei Substantia nigra Dorsal raphe nucleus
Input Nuclei Striatum projects to: Globus pallidus Substantia nigra Pars reticularis Via gabaminergic fibers Motor and sensory cortices project to putamen. Association areas of all lobes project to caudate nucleus.
Output Nuclei Globus pallidus (medial part) Substantia nigra: Pars reticularis Ventral pallidum Fibers project to: VA/VL nuclei Mostly inhibitory
General Core Circuit Cerebral cortex to: Striatum to: Globus pallidus to: Thalamus to: Portions of motor cortex to: Upper motor neurons
Basal Ganglia Connections Red = excitatory; Black = Inhibitory Motor areas of cerebral cortex Ventrolateral thalamus Putamen Globus pallidus externus Output nuclei Subthalamic nuclei Pedunculo- Pontine nuclei Lateral Activation pathways Reticulospinal and Vestibulospinal pathways Substantia nigra compacta
Thalamic Fasciculi Ansa lenticularis: Consists of fibers from dorsal portion of globus pallidus. Loops under internal capsule. To VA/VL complex.
Thalamic Fasciculi Lenticular fasciculus: Consists of fibers from ventral portion of globus pallidus. Passes across the internal capsule. To VA/VL complex.
Functions Basal nuclei set organism’s level of responsiveness to stimuli. Extrapyramidal disorders are associated with basal nuclei pathology: Negative symptoms of underresponsiveness: Akinesias i.e. Parkinson disease Positive symptoms of over-responsiveness: Choreas, athetoses, ballisms i.e. Huntington’s chorea
Dopamine Neuronal System Consists of nigrostriatal fibers From pars compacta of substantia nigra To striatum Dopaminergic