Basal Ganglia Flashcards
(20 cards)
What are the components of the basal ganglia?
Caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus.
What are the main functions of the basal ganglia?
Planning/programming motor actsControl of learned voluntary movementsCognitive control of motor patternsRegulation of muscle tone and posture
What are the two major circuits in the basal ganglia?
Putamen circuit and caudate circuit.
What is the role of the putamen circuit?
Execution of learned motor patterns (e.g., writing, hammering).
What is the role of the caudate circuit?
Cognitive control of sequential motor patterns (e.g., responding to danger).
Which neurotransmitters are involved in basal ganglia function?
Acetylcholine (ACh) – excitatory
GABA – inhibitory
Dopamine – inhibitory (from substantia nigra to striatum)
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
Loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.
What protein accumulates in Lewy bodies in Parkinson’s disease?
α-synuclein.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
Tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability.
Lesion in globus pallidus causes?
Athetosis (writhing movements).
Lesion in subthalamic nucleus causes?
Hemiballismus (sudden flailing of limbs).
Lesion in putamen causes?
Chorea (flicking movements).
Lesion in substantia nigra causes?
Parkinsonism (rigidity, tremor, akinesia)
What is Huntington’s disease caused by?
Loss of GABA (Gamma-AminoButyric Acid) and ACh-secreting neurons in caudate and putamen.
Which basal ganglia circuit is responsible for executing learned motor tasks like handwriting?
A. Caudate circuitB. Putamen circuitC. Corticospinal tractD. Vestibulospinal tract
B. Putamen circuit
What type of neurotransmitter is GABA in the basal ganglia?A. ExcitatoryB. InhibitoryC. NeutralD. Modulatory
B. Inhibitory
A lesion in which structure causes hemiballismus?
A. Subthalamic nucleusB. Globus pallidusC. PutamenD. Caudate nucleus
A. Subthalamic nucleus
Which basal ganglia component is primarily affected in Parkinson’s disease?A. PutamenB. Caudate nucleusC. Substantia nigraD. Globus pallidus
C. Substantia nigra
Huntington’s disease involves loss of which neurons?A. DopaminergicB. GlutamatergicC. GABAergic and cholinergicD. Adrenergic
C. GABAergic and cholinergic
- Which of the following is NOT a function of the basal ganglia?A. Sensory perceptionB. Planning of voluntary movementC. Regulation of muscle toneD. Control of learned motor acts
A. Sensory perception
