BASAL GANGLIA

Dr. Israa M. SulaimanDepartment of Anatomy

IMS/MSU

• Define basal ganglia and describe the parts

• Describe the main connections and functions

• Describe the function and the disorders of basal ganglia such as Parkinsonism and tremors

OBJECTIVES

Basal gangliaThe basal ganglia is a

collection of gray matter in the cerebrum including the corpus striatum, amygdala

and claustrum.Has important

connections with other regions of the brain, particularly: thalamus, subthalamic nuclei, red nucleus and substantia nigra

Important in coordinating movement.

Traditional Concepts of Basal GangliaTraditional Concepts of Basal Ganglia

Corpus StriatumCorpus Striatum

Caudate NucleusCaudate Nucleus

Lenticular Nucleus PutamenLenticular Nucleus Putamen

Globus Pallidus Paleostriatum PallidumGlobus Pallidus Paleostriatum Pallidum

Corpus Amygdaloideum ArchistriatumCorpus Amygdaloideum Archistriatum

Neostriatum StriatumNeostriatum Striatum

Basal GangliaBasal Ganglia Basal GangliaBasal Ganglia

1. Putamen1. Putamen2. Tail of caudate 2. Tail of caudate

nucleusnucleus3. 3.

CaudatolenticCaudatolenticular gray ular gray bridgebridge

4. Amygdaloid body4. Amygdaloid body5. thalamus5. thalamus

Lateral surface Lateral surface of basal gangliaof basal ganglia

1. head of 1. head of caudate nuceluscaudate nucelus

2. body of 2. body of caudate nuceluscaudate nucelus

3. caudatolenticular 3. caudatolenticular gray bridgegray bridge

4. putamen4. putamen

5. tail of 5. tail of caudate nucleus caudate nucleus

6. external segment of 6. external segment of globus pallidus globus pallidus

7. internal segment of 7. internal segment of globus pallidusglobus pallidus

8. amygdaloid body8. amygdaloid body

9. nucleus accumbens 9. nucleus accumbens septisepti

Medial surface of basal gangliaMedial surface of basal ganglia

Components of Basal GangliaComponents of Basal Ganglia

Corpus StriatumCorpus Striatum

Striatum ----- Caudate Nucleus & PutamenStriatum ----- Caudate Nucleus & Putamen

Pallidum ----- Globus Pallidus (GP)Pallidum ----- Globus Pallidus (GP)

Substantia NigraSubstantia Nigra

Pars Compacta (SNc)Pars Compacta (SNc)

Pars Reticulata (SNr)Pars Reticulata (SNr)

Subthalamic Nucleus (STN)Subthalamic Nucleus (STN)

Ventral Striatum and Ventral PallidumVentral Striatum and Ventral Pallidum

Nucleus Accumbens SeptiNucleus Accumbens Septi

Non cholinergic portion of Substantia InnominataNon cholinergic portion of Substantia Innominata

Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components

STRIATUMSTRIATUM

Caudate NucleusCaudate Nucleus Head, (Corpus), TailHead, (Corpus), Tail

caudatolenticular gray bridgecaudatolenticular gray bridge

PutamenPutamen

Ventral StriatumVentral Striatum: : Nucleus Accumbens (Septi)Nucleus Accumbens (Septi)

Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components

BASAL GANGLIA

BASAL GANGLIA

CORPUS STRIATUM AMYGDALA

NEOSTRIATUM

CAUDATE NUCLEUS

PALEOSTRIATUM

PUTAMEN GLOBUS PALLIDUS

LENTIFORM NUCLEUS

CLAUSTRUM

TERMINOLOGIESNeurological structure

Basal nuclei

Corpus striatum Caudate nucleus + lentiform nucleus

Amygdala Amygdaloid nucleus

Claustrum Claustrum

Neostriatum Caudate nucleus + putamen

Paleostriatum Globus pallidus

Caudate nucleus Caudate nucleus

Lentiform nucleus Globus pallidus + putamen

Anterior horn

Inferior horn

Posterior horn

Amygdaloid nucleus

Basal ganglia

Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components Basal Ganglia Components

Striosome and Striosome and Matrix compartmentMatrix compartment

AchE

PutamenPutamenGlobus pallidusGlobus pallidus external segmentexternal segment internal segmentinternal segmentSubthalamic NucleusSubthalamic NucleusSubstantia nigraSubstantia nigra

Internal capsuleInternal capsule

Components ofComponents ofBasal GangliaBasal Ganglia

habenularhabenularnucleusnucleus

habenularhabenularnucleusnucleus

tectumtectum(superior colliculus)(superior colliculus)

tectumtectum(superior colliculus)(superior colliculus)

PPNPPN(pedunculopontine nucleus)(pedunculopontine nucleus)

PPNPPN(pedunculopontine nucleus)(pedunculopontine nucleus)

amygdaloid bodyamygdaloid bodyamygdaloid bodyamygdaloid body

rapherapherapheraphe

CerebralCerebralCortexCortex

CerebralCerebralCortexCortex

STNSTNSTNSTN

PallidumPallidum

SNrSNr

PallidumPallidum

SNrSNr

STRIATUMSTRIATUMSTRIATUMSTRIATUM

Connections of the Basal GangliaConnections of the Basal GangliaConnections of the Basal GangliaConnections of the Basal Ganglia

SNcSNcSNcSNcThalamusThalamusThalamusThalamus

Basal Ganglia (Prefronatal Complex Loop) Basal Ganglia (Prefronatal Complex Loop) Connections Connections

Basal Ganglia (Prefronatal Complex Loop) Basal Ganglia (Prefronatal Complex Loop) Connections Connections

PrefrontalPrefrontalAssociationAssociation

CortexCortex

PrimaryPrimaryMotor AreaMotor Area

(M I)(M I)

THALAMUSTHALAMUS(VLm, VAmc, MD)(VLm, VAmc, MD)

STRIATUMSTRIATUM(Caudate (Caudate Nucleus)Nucleus)

SNrSNr(Substantia Nigra,(Substantia Nigra,

pars reticulata)pars reticulata)

pyramidalpyramidal tracttract

LMNLMN

Basal Ganglia (Limbic Loop) Basal Ganglia (Limbic Loop) ConnectionsConnections

Basal Ganglia (Limbic Loop) Basal Ganglia (Limbic Loop) ConnectionsConnections

Orbitofrontal CortexOrbitofrontal CortexAnterior Cingulate GyrusAnterior Cingulate GyrusHippocampal FormationHippocampal Formation

THALAMUSTHALAMUS(VAmc, MD)(VAmc, MD)

Ventral StriatumVentral StriatumCaudate NucleusCaudate Nucleus

Ventral PallidumVentral PallidumGPi, SNrGPi, SNr

Basal Ganglia (Oculomotor Loop) Basal Ganglia (Oculomotor Loop) Connections Connections

Basal Ganglia (Oculomotor Loop) Basal Ganglia (Oculomotor Loop) Connections Connections

FrontalFrontalEye FieldEye Field(area 8)(area 8)

PrimaryPrimaryMotor AreaMotor Area

(M I)(M I)

THALAMUSTHALAMUS(VLm, VAmc, MD)(VLm, VAmc, MD)

STRIATUMSTRIATUM(Caudate (Caudate Nucleus)Nucleus)

SNrSNr(Substantia Nigra,(Substantia Nigra,

pars reticulata)pars reticulata)

pyramidalpyramidal tracttract

LMNLMN TectumTectum

Basal GangliaBasal Ganglia (SNc and CM-PF nuclear complex) (SNc and CM-PF nuclear complex) Connections Connections

Basal GangliaBasal Ganglia (SNc and CM-PF nuclear complex) (SNc and CM-PF nuclear complex) Connections Connections

PallidumPallidum

StriatumStriatum

THALAMUSTHALAMUS(CM-PF)(CM-PF)

PallidumPallidum

StriatumStriatum

SNcSNc

Basal Ganglia (Brain Stem Efferents) Basal Ganglia (Brain Stem Efferents) Phylogeny Phylogeny

Basal Ganglia (Brain Stem Efferents) Basal Ganglia (Brain Stem Efferents) Phylogeny Phylogeny

GPiGPi

SNrSNr

TectumTectum(superior (superior colliculus)colliculus)

SpL SpL nDCPnDCP

DIP (thalamus)DIP (thalamus)NeostriatumNeostriatumIntermedialeIntermediale

(motor cortex)(motor cortex)

aves (birds)aves (birds)

GPiGPi

SNrSNrTectumTectum

(superior (superior colliculus)colliculus)

nPCnPC

VA-VL complexVA-VL complex(thalamus)(thalamus)

motormotorcortexcortex

mammalsmammals

Basal Ganglia (STN) Basal Ganglia (STN)

ConnectionsConnections

Basal Ganglia (STN) Basal Ganglia (STN)

ConnectionsConnections

SNrSNrGPiGPi

STNSTN

GPeGPe

subthalamicsubthalamic fasciculusfasciculus

OutputOutputPortionPortionofofBasalBasalGangliaGanglia

Cerebral CoretxCerebral Coretx

Thalamus (CM-PF)Thalamus (CM-PF)

PPNPPN

SubthalamicSubthalamicNucleusNucleus

Caudate nucleus

Putamen

Globus pallidus

Claustrum

Lentiform nucleus Insula

Basal ganglia HORIZONTAL SECTIONANTERIOR

POSTERIOR

Thalamus

Amygdala

SUPERIOR

INFERIOR

CORONAL SECTIONBasal ganglia

Caudate nucleus

Claustrum Lentiformnucleus

Thalamus

Substantianigra

Subthalamic nucleus

SUPERIOR

INFERIOR

CORONAL SECTIONBasal ganglia

Caudate nucleus

Tail of Caudate nucleus

Thalamus

Substantianigra

Red nucleus

SUPERIOR

INFERIOR

CORONAL SECTIONBasal ganglia

Caudate n

Thalamus

POST

ANT

Horizontal sectioncorpus striatum• Caudate nucleus• Putamen• Globus pallidus

lentiform nucleus• Putamen• Globus pallidus

neostriatum• Caudate nucleus• Putamen

paleostriatum• Globus pallidus

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Lateral ventricle-Ant horn

Third ventricle

Lateral ventricle-Post horn

• Caudate nucleus• Putamen• Globus pallidus• Claustrum• Amygdala (part of

limbic system)

Basal ganglia

Caudate n

Thalamus

POST

ANT

Horizontal section

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Lateral ventricle-Ant horn

Third ventricle

Lateral ventricle-Post horn

Lentiform

Caudate nucleus

thalamus

• C-shaped • Head, body,tail• Large head,tapering curved tail• Head-frontal lobe• Tail-occipital lobe• End of tail-temporal lobe

– -terminates in amygdaloid nucleus– (roof of inf horn of lateral ventricle)

Caudate

Amygdaloid

Caudate nucleus

Putamen Globus pallidus

Caudate nucleus

Lentiform nucleus

Lentiform

thalamusCaudate

Amygdaloid Putamen Globus pallidus

Putamen – lateral medullary lamina – Globus PallidusLat GP – medial medullary lamina – Med GP

Lentiform nucleus

Putamen

Globus pallidus

Lateral medullary lamina

Medial medullary lamina

Lat GP Med GP

Caudate n

Thalamus

POST

ANT

Horizontal section

Globuspallidus

Putamen

Lateral ventricle-Ant horn

Third ventricle

Lateral ventricle-Post horn

Lentiform nucleus

• Wedge-shaped

• Internal capsule

• External capsule

• Extreme capsule

• Claustrum

• Lateral and medial medullary lamina

Amygdaloid nucleus

Lentiform

thalamusCaudate

Amygdaloid Putamen Globus pallidus

Temporal lobe - Roof of inf horn of lateral ventricle

Caudate n

Thalamus

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Subthalamic nuclei

Substantia nigra

Substantia nigraSubthalamic nuclei

Coronal section

Connections

• Caudate nucleus

• Putamen

• Globus pallidus – output leaves

receive input

• Connections of striatum

– Caudate nucleus & putamen – input

– Receive afferent - cerebral cortex, intralaminar thalamic nuclei, subs nigra

– Efferent – globus pallidus, subs nigra

• Connections of globus pallidus

– 2 segments – med & lat– Med & subs nigra – output– Receive afferent – striatum,

subthalamic nucleus– Efferent

• Lat – subthalamic N

• Med – thalamus (VA,VL,CM) – motor areas

Connections

CN/

i/laminar thal

Connections of basal gangliaAfferent

• Corticostriate• Thalamostriate• Nigrostriate• Brainstem striatal fibres

• Striatopallidal• Subthalamic nucleus

• Mostly end in neostriatum except subthalamic N end in paleostriatum

Efferent• Striatopallidal• Striatonigral

• Pallidofugal fibres– Ansa lenticularis– Fasciculus lenticularis– Pallidotegmental– Pallidosubthalamic

Corticostriate-Glutamate

thalamostriate

Nigrostriate-dopa

Striatopallidal-GABA

Brainstem striatal-serotonin

Striatopallidal-GABA

Striatonigral-GABA,Ach

Ansa lenticularis

Fasciculuslenticularis

pallidotegmental

pallidosubthalamic

Caudate n

Thalamus

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Subthalamic nuclei

Substantia nigra

Subthalamus-pallidal

Connections of basal ganglia Afferent fibres Efferent fibres

Pallidofugal fibres

Connections of corpus striatumAfferent

• Cerebral cortex-Corticostriate

• Thalamic nuclei-Thalamostriate

• Substantia nigra-Nigrostriate

• Brainstem striatal fibres

Efferent

• Globus pallidus-Striatopallidal

• Substantia nigra-Striatonigral

• Connections of striatum– Caudate nucleus & putamen – input– Receive afferent - cerebral cortex,

intralaminar thalamic nulcei, subs nigra– Efferent – globus pallidus, subs nigra

premotor

1o sensory1

2

4Brainstem

supplementary motor

3

Connections of globus pallidus Afferent

• Striatum-striatopallidal• Subthalamic nucleus• Subthalamonigral-

Efferent

• Thalamic nuclei-Ansa lenticularis

• Subthalamus-Fasciculus lenticularis

• Tegmental of midbrain-Pallidotegmental

• Subthalamic nuclei-Pallidosubthalamic

• Connections of globus pallidus– 2 segments – med & lat– Med GP & subs nigra – output– Receive afferent – striatum, subthalamic

nucleus– Efferent

• Lat GP – subthalamic N• Med GP – thalamus (VA,VL,CM) – motor areas

1

2

Ansa lenticularis

Fasc lenticularisPallidosubthalamic

Pallidotegmental

Function • Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum

and thalamus– motor activity– muscle tone– organisation of movement

• What type ? -cerebral cortex• How to perform? -basal ganglia+cerebellum• Assist in regulation-thalamus

• Part of extra-pyramidal motor system• Facilitate behaviour & movement – required and

appropriate• Inhibit unwanted & inappropriate

Function

“Brake hypothesis”

• The deficits tend to fall into one of two categories: – the presence of extraneous unwanted

movements»OR

– an absence or difficulty with intended movements.

• The balance between the cerebellum and the basal ganglia allows smooth, coordinated movement, and a disturbance in either system will show up as movement disorders.

Function

• Destruction of primary motor –– Unable to perform fine

discrete movement– But still able to

perform crude movement

• Destruction of corpus striatum –– Total paralysis

Cerebral cortex

Corticospinal CorticobulbarCorticostriatal

Direct Indirect

StriatonigralStriatopallidal

inhibitory

Disinhibit neurone thalamus

Facilitate movement

Subthalamic NMed pallidalinhibitory

inhibitoryLat pallidal

Activate neurone

Inhibit unwanted movement

excitatory

Disease of basal ganglia

• Change in muscle tone• Abnormal involuntary movement

– Parkinsonism– Effect on the opposite side

• Degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in substantia nigra-depletion of dopamine in striatum

• Resting tremor• Rigidity – simultaneous contraction of flexors and extensors• Bradykinesia = Slowness of movement – brake cannot be

released• No paralysis, sensory loss, ataxia

Cerebral cortex

Corticospinal CorticobulbarCorticostriatal

Direct Indirect

StriatonigralStriatopallidal

inhibitory

Disinhibit neurone thalamus

Facilitate movement

Subthalamic NMed pallidalinhibitory

inhibitoryLat pallidal

Activate neurone

Inhibit unwanted movement

excitatory

Corticostriate-Glutamate

thalamostriate

Nigrostriate-dopa

Striatopallidal-GABA

Brainstem striatal-serotonin

Striatopallidal-GABA

Striatonigral-GABA,Ach

Ansa lenticularis

Fasciculuslenticularis

pallidotegmental

pallidotsubthalamic

Caudate n

Thalamus

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Subthalamic nuclei

Substantia nigra

Subthalamus-pallidal

Connections of basal ganglia Afferent fibres Efferent fibres

Pallidofugal fibres

– Huntington’s disease – • hereditary disease of unwanted movements. It

results from degeneration of the caudate and putamen, and produces continuous dance-like movements of the face and limbs -choreoathetosis

– Hemiballism -• flailing movements of one arm and leg (one-sided),

which is caused by damage (i.e., stroke) of the subthalamic nucleus.

Disease of basal ganglia

Caudate n

Thalamus

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Subthalamic nuclei

Substantia nigra

Afferent fibres Efferent fibres

Caudate n

Thalamus

Globus pallidus

Putamen

Subthalamic nuclei

Substantia nigra

Afferent fibres Efferent fibres

Connections of basal ganglia-afferent fibres

A-Brainstem striatal fibresB-thalamostriateC-corticostriateD-subthalamicE-nigrostriate

Match the connections -

EXCERCISE

Connections of basal ganglia-efferent fibres

A-pallidosubthalamicB-striatopallidalC-ansa lenticularisD-striatonigral

Match the connections -

EXCERCISE