Striatopallidal fibres

Neural pathways connecting the striatum and the globus pallidus

Striatopallidal fibres

Globus pallidus and putamen

Striatopallidal fibres are a set of neural pathways that connect the striatum to the globus pallidus, which are both components of the basal ganglia in the brain. These fibres play a crucial role in the regulation of motor control and are involved in various neurological disorders.

Anatomy

The striatopallidal fibres originate in the striatum, which is composed of the caudate nucleus and the putamen. These fibres project to the globus pallidus, which is divided into two segments: the external segment (GPe) and the internal segment (GPi). The striatopallidal pathway primarily targets the GPe, forming part of the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia.

Function

The primary function of the striatopallidal fibres is to modulate the activity of the globus pallidus. This modulation is essential for the regulation of voluntary movement. The striatopallidal pathway is inhibitory, using the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to decrease the activity of the GPe. This inhibition is a critical component of the indirect pathway, which ultimately reduces the excitatory input to the thalamus and helps to fine-tune motor commands.

Clinical significance

Dysfunction in the striatopallidal fibres can lead to various movement disorders. For example, in Parkinson's disease, there is an imbalance in the activity of the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia, leading to the characteristic motor symptoms of the disease. Understanding the role of striatopallidal fibres is crucial for developing treatments for such disorders.

Related pages

• Basal ganglia
• Striatum
• Globus pallidus
• Parkinson's disease
• Motor control