Subthalamus
Part of the diencephalon in the brain
The subthalamus is a part of the diencephalon located beneath the thalamus. It plays a crucial role in the regulation of movements and is involved in the basal ganglia system. The subthalamus is primarily composed of the subthalamic nucleus and the zona incerta.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The subthalamus is situated between the thalamus and the midbrain. It is bordered superiorly by the thalamus, medially by the hypothalamus, and laterally by the internal capsule. The subthalamus is continuous with the tegmentum of the midbrain.
Subthalamic Nucleus[edit | edit source]
The subthalamic nucleus is a small, lens-shaped structure that is a key component of the basal ganglia circuitry. It receives input from the cerebral cortex and the globus pallidus and projects to the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra. The subthalamic nucleus is involved in the regulation of motor functions and is implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.
Zona Incerta[edit | edit source]
The zona incerta is a region of gray matter located between the subthalamic nucleus and the thalamus. It is less well understood than the subthalamic nucleus but is thought to play a role in modulating sensory and motor pathways.
Function[edit | edit source]
The subthalamus is primarily involved in the regulation of movement. It is part of the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia, which helps to inhibit unwanted movements. The subthalamic nucleus, in particular, is critical for the modulation of motor activity and is involved in the control of voluntary movements.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Lesions or dysfunctions in the subthalamus can lead to movement disorders. One such disorder is hemiballismus, which is characterized by involuntary, flinging movements of the limbs. This condition is often caused by a lesion in the subthalamic nucleus, typically due to a stroke.
The subthalamic nucleus is also a target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. DBS of the subthalamic nucleus can help alleviate symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
