The basal ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei including the corpus striatum, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, and ventral tegmental area. The corpus striatum contains the striatum, globus pallidus, and ventral pallidum. The basal ganglia are responsible for automatic motor control and learned movements. Dysfunction of the basal ganglia leads to movement disorders like Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and hemiballism. Animal models help confirm the role of basal ganglia in these conditions.
2. ANATOMY
Basal ganglia include
1. Corpus striatum
2. Substantia nigra ( pars compacta and pars reticularis)
3. Subthalamic nucleus of Luys
4. Ventral tegmental area.
The corpus striatum comprises the
1. Striatum proper (or neostriatum)
Putamen
Caudate nucleus
nucleus accumbens
2. Globus pallidus (or paleostriatum)
medial or internal (Gpi)
lateral or external (Gpe)
3. ventral pallidum, with its internal and external portions.
4. Basal ganglia are responsible for
automatic execution of learned motor plans
movements that have been laid down by practice and that are
subconscious.
5. Parkinson disease (PD) to deficient dopaminergic neurotransmission
in the striatum consequent to the death of dopaminergic neurons in
the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc)
Choreic movements in Huntington disease (HD) are linked to the
death of medium spiny neurons in the caudate and putamen.
Hemiballism (HB) is typically associated with structural lesions in the
contralateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) or its afferent or efferent
connections