The substantia nigra represents a nuclear area in the midbrain that is dark in color and belongs to the extrapyramidal motor system. It thus contributes to the control of movements. Atrophy of the substantia nigra occurs in Parkinson’s syndromes and leads to the development of the cardinal symptoms of rigor, tremor, bradykinesia, and postural instability. … Substantia Nigra: Structure, Function & Diseases
Beneath the thalamus lies arguably the most important part of the motor system: the subthalamus. It lies in the midbrain and receives nerve cell nuclei that control certain muscle activities. It represents a pale nucleus; its shape is reminiscent of a lens. This part is one of the regions of the human brain that has … Subthalamus: Structure, Function & Diseases
Human motor function is controlled by an interplay between the two pyramidal tracts and the three extrapyramidal nerve tracts in the spinal cord. Within this framework, the extrapyramidal or extrapyramidal motor system is primarily responsible for involuntary and automated movements. In inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, as well as in trauma, the extrapyramidal … Extrapyramidal Motor System: Structure, Function & Diseases
The input area of the basal ganglia is the striatum, also known as the striate body. This part of the brain is interconnected with the motor neural pathways and is the first switching point for the circuitry of specific movements. Degeneration of the striatum can occur in the context of Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease … Striatum: Structure, Function & Diseases
PANDAS is a now-recognized neuropsychiatric syndrome that can be caused by a previous infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in children and adolescents. Symptoms resemble those of obsessive-compulsive disorder or Tourette’s syndrome. Good success in preventing chronicity of the disease has been achieved with antibiotic treatment. What is PANDAS? PANDAS is the abbreviation for the … PANDAS: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
