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Basal Ganglia Important

Doctors Notes
Notes/Extra explanation
Please view our Editing File before studying this lecture to check for any changes.
Objectives
At the end of the lecture, the students should be able to:
✓ Define “basal ganglia” and enumerate its components.
✓ Enumerate parts of “Corpus Striatum” and their important relations.
✓ Describe the structure of Caudate and Lentiform (Putamen & Globus
Pallidus) nuclei.
✓ Differentiate between striatum & paleostriatum in terms of
connections.
✓ State briefly functions & dysfunctions of Corpus Striatum.
 Basal Ganglia
02:00 1
o BASAL GANGLIA (NUCLEI) : group of nuclei deeply situated in
cerebral hemispheres 2
o Components:
[Link] Nucleus: 3
1. Caudate Nucleus
divided into Putamen & Globus Pallidus
lateral medial

Caudate & Lentiform nuclei are functionally related to each other

& called “Corpus striatum”: Part of extrapyramidal motor system,
principally involved in the control of posture and movements
(primarily by inhibiting unwanted motor functions)

3. Amygdaloid Nucleus

(function is different: part of limbic system) is only embryologically

related to Corpus Striatum
Corpus Striatum
Nomenclature
Bands of grey matter pass from lentiform nucleus across
the internal capsule to the caudate nucleus, giving the
striated appearance hence, the name corpus striatum. Extra

Extra

Lentiform Nucleus
SHAPE:
three sided, wedge-shaped mass of grey matter, with a
convex outer surface and an apex which lies against the genu
of the internal capsule (G) Genu is a Latin word for "knee“.

DIVISION: divided into

1. Larger darker lateral portion called Putamen (P)
2. Smaller, lighter medial portion called Globus Pallidus (g)
Corpus Striatum
Lentiform Nucleus
Putamen
o Separated from globus pallidus (g) by a thin sheath of nerve
fibers, the lateral medullary lamina
o The white matter lateral to putamen is divided, by a sheath
of grey matter, the claustrum into two layers:
• external capsule (1) between the putamen and claustrum.
• extreme capsule (2) between the claustrum and the insula
We saw 3 capsules: internal, external, and extreme. All are white matter.

Globus Pallidus
o Consists of two divisions, the lateral (L) & the medial (M)
segments, separated by a thin sheath of nerve fibers, the
medial medullary lamina.
o The medial segment is similar, in terms of cytology and
connections with the pars reticulata of substantia nigra
Corpus Striatum
Caudate Nucleus
o Shape: C-shaped mass of grey matter Looks like comma:
o Components: head, body & tail
1. Head:
• Rounded in shape
• Lies anterior to thalamus (in frontal lobe)
• Completely separated from the putamen by the Extra
internal capsule except rostrally where it is
continuous with the putamen
2. Body:
• Long & narrow
• Extends above thalamus (in parietal lobe)
3. Tail:
• Long & tapering
• Descends, below thalamus, into temporal lobe
• Continuous with Amygdaloid Nucleus
Corpus Striatum
Important relations 01:55

Head of Caudate Nucleus:

• Anterior to thalamus
• Medial to Lentiform & separated from it by anterior limb of internal capsule (A)

Lentiform Nucleus:
• Lateral to thalamus & separated from it by posterior limb of internal capsule (P)

Extra

P
Corpus Striatum Important

o Putamen is more closely related to Caudate nucleus (regarding development, function

& connections) and together constitute the neostriatum or striatum.
o The globus pallidus is the oldest part of corpus striatum and is called paleostriatum or
pallidum.
 Corpus Striatum Very important!

Striatum (Caudate & Putamen) Paleostriatum (Globus Pallidus)

“The input portion of Corpus striatum” “The output portion of corpus striatum:
medial segment of G.P. + Pars Reticulata of S.N.*”
*Substantia Nigra is divided into Pars Compacta and Pars Reticulata
(which is structurally similar to the medial segment of globus pallidus)

Cerebral Cortex Substantia Nigra

(premotor area 6) (Pars Reticulata)
Thalamus
(Ventral lateral, Ventral
anterior, centromedian)
Thalamus Globus Pallidus
Striatum
(intralaminar nuclei) Medial Segment

Substantia Nigra Globus Pallidus

(Pars Compacta) Subthalamic Subthalamic Nuclei
Lateral Segment fasciculus
AFEERENT EFEERENT
(input) (output)
Corpus Striatum
Function
o The corpus striatum assists in regulation of voluntary movement and learning of motor skills.
o Their function is to facilitate behavior and movement that are required and appropriate, and
inhibit unwanted or inappropriate movement.

Dysfunction = Parkinsonism
o Its dysfunction does NOT cause paralysis, sensory loss or ataxia
o Its dysfunction leads to:
• Abnormal motor control: emergence of abnormal,
involuntary movements (dyskinesias)
• Alteration in muscle tone: hypertonia/hypotonia
• Soft speech
• Stooped posture
• Nonmotor symptoms: depression, constipation, fatigue.

Extra: Mohammed Ali, the famous boxer, had parkinsonism.

 Only on the boys’ slides
Connection Of Corpus Striatum ‫الدكتور قال انه الساليدات هذه لزيادة االيضاح فقط‬
‫و الساليدات المتوافقة مع البنات هي المعتمدة‬
Afferent Fibers (input)
1- Corticostriate Fibers:
• From all parts of cerebral cortex (mostly from sensory- motor
cortex) axons pass
• to caudate nucleus and putamen.
• Glutamate is the neurotransmitter of this fibers.
2-Thalamostriate Fibers :
• From intralaminar nuclei of thalamus axons pass
• to caudate nucleus and putamen.
3- Nigrostriate Fibers :
• Axons from Substantia nigra of midbrain pass
• to caudate nucleus and putamen.
• Neurotransmitter is Dopamine.
4- Brain stem Strial Fibers :
• Ascending fibers from brain stem
• end in caudate nucleus & putamen.
• Serotonin is the neurotransmitter.

It is believed that the last 2 groups are inhibitory in function

 Only on the boys’ slides
‫الدكتور قال انه الساليدات هذه لزيادة االيضاح فقط‬
Connection Of Corpus Striatum ‫و الساليدات المتوافقة مع البنات هي المعتمدة‬

Efferent Fibers (Output)

1-Striatopallidal fibers:
• These fibers pass from corpus striatum
(caudate nucleus & putamen)
• to globus pallidus.
• Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the
neurotransmitter.

2-Striatonigral fibers:
• These fibers pass from caudate nucleus &
putamen
• to Substantia nigra.
• Some fibers use GABA as a neurotransmitter,
and others use substance p.
 Only on the boys’ slides
‫الدكتور قال انه الساليدات هذه لزيادة االيضاح فقط‬
Functions of Basal Ganglia ‫و الساليدات المتوافقة مع البنات هي المعتمدة‬

1. Control of movements
2. Planning and programming of movements
3. Cognition

These information is
Basically the activity of
integrated within corpus
basal nuclei begins by Thus the basal nuclei So basal nuclei assist
striatum and channeled
information received from can control muscular in regulation of
within globus pallidus and
sensory cortex, thalamus, movement through voluntary movement
outflow back to motor
substantia nigra, and red its effect on cerebral and learning of
areas of cerebral cortex,
nucleus, according to cortex motor skills.
and other motor areas in
thoughts of mind.
brain stem.

Functions of basal ganglia:

o Design of plans, which convert thoughts and ideas into motor actions: to produce a coordinated
organized purposeful movement. e.g. dressing.
o Determining the timing and scale of movement: to what extent the movement will be fast, and how
long it will last.
o Storage of motor programs of familiar motor actions: e.g. signature.
 Only on the boys’ slides
Parkinsonism (Parkinson’s disease, paralysis Agitans) ‫الدكتور قال انه الساليدات هذه لزيادة االيضاح فقط‬
‫و الساليدات المتوافقة مع البنات هي المعتمدة‬

o Described by James Parkinson

o Lesion:
Neuronal degeneration* in substantia nigra leading to reduction of
dopamine within corpus striatum.
o Features:
1- Tremors:
Pill-rolling, involuntary, rhythmic, oscillating movements. It
occurs during waking time during rest, it is called static tremors.
2- Rigidity:
It occurs in both flexors, and extensors, but more in flexors giving
flexion attitude. It is called lead pipe rigidity.
3- Akinesia:
it means lack of movement; Absence of swinging arm during
walking, mask face, low- volume slow monotonous speech, and :‫أعراض المرض ال تظهر إال بعد ما يحصل‬
shuffling gait. *Degeneration of dopaminergic nigrostriatal
o Four cardinal symptoms: neurons (60-80 %).
1. Tremor & Rigidity, 2. Akinesia & Bradykinesia, Methyl-Phenyl-Tetrahydro-Pyridine (MPTP).
The oxidant MPP+ is toxic to SN.
3. Postural Changes, 4. Speech Changes
 Huntington’s Disease: Main Connections between Cortex, Parkinson’s Disease:
degeneration of inhibitory pathway basal Nuclei, Thalamic Nuclei degeneration of inhibitory
between corpus striatum & Brainstem & Spinal Cord pathways between Substantia
Substantia nigra These are the normal connections. Nigra & corpus striatum
Any degeneration will lead to

Only on the boys’ slides

‫الدكتور قال انه الساليدات هذه لزيادة االيضاح فقط‬
‫و الساليدات المتوافقة مع البنات هي المعتمدة‬
 Summary
Basal Ganglia
Corpus Striatum Amygdaloid
Caudate Lentiform
Globus
Putamen
Pallidus
Neostriatum Paleostriatum

Structure Separates
Claustrum Extreme capsule External capsule
Lateral medullary Putamen Globus pallidus
lamina
Medial medullary Lateral segment of Medial segment of
lamina globus pallidus globus pallidus
Anterior limb of Lentiform Caudate (head)
internal capsule
Posterior limb of Lentiform Thalamus
internal capsule
 Corpus striatum are primarily concerned with control of posture & movement.

while the medial segment of globus pallidus &

The striatum is the input region of
pars reticulata of substantia nigra are the
corpus striatum,
output portion.

Afferent fibers of striatum come Afferent fibers of both lateral & medial
from: segments of globus pallidus come from:
1. cerebral cortex, 1. striatum and
2. intralaminar nucleus of 2. subthalamic nucleus.
thalamus &
3. pars compacta of substantia
nigra. Efferent fibers Efferent fibers of medial
of lateral segment is directed to
segment is 1. ventral lateral,
Efferent fibers of striatum is directed to 2. ventral anterior &
directed to subthalamic 3. centromedian
1. globus pallidus & nucleus. nucleus of thalamus.
2. pars reticulata of substantia
nigra.
 Questions
[Link] is the caudate nucleus shaped like? [Link] part of the caudate nucleus is continues
a) C-shaped mass of white matter with the amygdaloid nucleus?
b) C-shaped mass of grey matter a) Body
c) G-shaped mass of grey matter b) Head
d) None are correct c) A and b
d) Tail
[Link] Lentiform Nucleus is related to the thalamus ___?
a) Medially [Link] does the dysfunction of the corpus straitum
b) Superior to the thalamus lead to?
c) laterally a) Paralysis
d) Inferior to b) Hypertonia
c) Ataxia
3. The two division of the globus pallidus are seperated by___? d) Sensory loss
a) The medial medullary lamina
b) The lateral medullary lamina 6. What are the components of the basal ganglia?
c) Insula 1. Caudate Nucleus
d) Lateral ventricle 2. Lentiform Nucleus
3. Amygdaloid Nucleus
7. What is the oldest part of corpus striatum?
1.B 2.C 3.A 4.D 5.B The globus pallidus
Leaders: Members:
Nawaf AlKhudairy Abdulmohsen alghannam
Jawaher Abanumy Abdulmalek alhadlaq
Abdullah jammah
Mohammed habib
Majed alzain
Abdulrahman almalki
Abdulmohsen alkhalaf
Talal alhuqayl
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anatomyteam436@[Link] References:
1- Girls’ & Boys’ Slides
@anatomy436
2- Greys Anatomy for Students
Anatomy Team 3- [Link]