| Applied Anatomy: |
|
| Deficits
of basal ganglia function fall into one of the two categories:
- Presence of extraneous unwanted movements.
- Absence of, or diffficulty with intended movements.
|
| |
|
| Examples |
|
|
Parkinson's
disease
|
 |
Caused by loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Presents
with three main symptoms:
- Tremor, most apparent at rest.
- Rigidity.
- Bradykinesia or akinesia.
|
| |
|
| Huntington's
disease |
 |
- Results from degeneration of the caudate and putamen. It may be
hereditary.
- There is continous slow writhing vermicular involuntary movements
of the face and limbs. The movements blend with each other to give
the appearance of a continous mobile spasm.
- When the movements involve axial muscles, they produce severe torsion
of the neck, shoulder and pelvic girdle.
|
| |
|
| Chorea |
- This is a brisk, graceful series of successive involuntary
movements of considerable complexity. They resemble fragments of purposeful
voluntary movements.
- The movements involve distal portions of the extremities,
the muscles of the facial expression, the tongue and muscles of swallowing.
|
| |
|
| Ballismus |
- This is invariably associated with lesions of the
sub thalamic nucleus, and its connections.
- This is a violent forceful, flinging movement involving
primarily the proximal appendicular musculature, around the shoulder
and pelvic girdles.
|
| |
|
