BASAL GANGLIA

Basal ganglia aggregation of cell body

Below the cerebral cortex

Vs.

Basal nuclei

Basal nuclei cell bodies (soma); cerebrum and spinal

cord

A network of subcortical nuclei on the base of the

forebrain that influence motor and cognitive functions of
cerebral cortex
Part of extrapyramidal system
Consist of:
a. Basal nuclei
b. Subthalamic nucleus
c. Red nucleus
d. Substantia nigra
e. Reticular formation

Cerebral cortex
Made up of gray matter (composed of cell body)
Divided into right and left
Subcortical white matter
Basal ganglia
NEUROLOGIC FUNCTION
Lentiform/ lenticular nucleus
Striatum/ neostriatum
Corpus striatum

Substantia nigra

COMPONENTS
Putamen
Globus pallidus
Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Globus pallidus
Pars compacta
Pars reticularis

Ventral striatum
Nucleus accumbens
Substantia nigra
Divided into two parts: pars compacta (SNc) which
houses 80% of the brains dopaminergic neurons, and
the pars reticularis
*mahirap mag produce ng movement pag may Parkinsons
disease nagkakaroon ng rigidity sa muscles, may
bradykinesia
Amygdaloid nucleus
Almond shaped mass of gray matter located in the
dorsomedial part of temporal bone
Not associated with motions in the limbic system
Functions of basal nuclei
Involved in the initiation and organization of movement
(motor planning)
Control of gross intentional but automatic movements in
coordination with the cerebellum

Influence on the maintenance and control of muscle

tone when performing specific fine activities
Influence on motor functions of the cortex either by
facilitating motor activity or by inhibiting it or even both

BASAL GANGLIA
Basal nuclei pathways and known neurotransmitters

BG

Motor Thalamus

Motor Cortex

LMNs

Voluntary
Muscles

Pedunculopontine
Tract

Reticulospinal
Tract

LMNs

Postural and
girdle muscles

Midbrain
Locomotor
Region

Reticulospinal
Tract

Sleeping
pattern
generator

Walking

Basal nuclei disorder

Dystonia

Hyperkinetic too much motion; increase excitatory

Hypokinetic lack in motion

Sustained muscle contractions that result to twisting

and repetitive movements of abnormal posture
Frequent focal form is spasmostic torticollis or wry neck

Chorea
Involuntary, rapid, irregular and jerky movements
piano playing movement, flexion-extension movement
of fingers
Elevation-depression of shoulder and hips
Crossing and uncrossing of legs
Grimacing of face
Huntingtons disease
Hemiballismus

Usually involves the proximal extremity musculature

Soft thalamic nucleus of basal ganglia
Sudden falling of the limb
Lesion is in the opposite subthalamic region

Athethosis
Involuntary, slow, writhing, worm-like movement
Involves the UE>LE; neck, face, trunk
- Tics (tourettes syndrome)
Frequently in CP

Tremors
Rhythmical, involuntary, oscillatory movement of a body
part
- Resting tremors (senile tremors)
- Action/intention/kinetic tremors
- Postural/static tremors
Parkinsons disease
Brought about by neuronal degeneration in the
susbtantia nigra resulting in a reduction in the release of
dopamine within corpus striatum
Characteristic signs and symptoms
- Bradykinesia
- Rigidity
- Tremors (resting)
- Postural instability
Parkinsonism
Secondary to virus/ trauma/ bacterial
Same signs and symptoms to Parkinsons disease