Pallidothalamic tracts explained

The pallidothalamic tracts (or pallidothalamic connections)^[1] are a part of the basal ganglia. They provide connectivity between the internal globus pallidus (GPi) and the thalamus, primarily the ventral anterior nucleus and the ventral lateral nucleus.

Anatomy

They are composed of the ansa lenticularis, the lenticular fasciculus (field H₂ of Forel), and the thalamic fasciculus (field H₁ of Forel).

• The ansa lenticularis is composed of fibers that pass from the ventral aspect of the globus pallidus and sweep around the posterior limb of the internal capsule. They connect with the fibers of the lenticular fasciculus in the field H of Forel to form the thalamic fasciculus.
• The lenticular fascicles is composed of fibers that pass from the internal part of the globus pallidus, through the posterior limb of the internal capsule, around the zona incerta. These fibers connect with the fibers of the ansa lenticularis in the field H of Forel to form the thalamic fasciculus.
• The thalamic fasciculus is formed by the fibers of the ansa lenticularis and the lenticular fasciculus that merge in the field H of Forel. The fibers of this fasciculus then travel to the thalamus and primarily terminate in the ventral anterior nucleus and ventral lateral nucleus.^[2] Some fibers travel to the interthalamic nuclei.

See also

• Primate basal ganglia system

Notes and References

1. Gallay MN, Jeanmonod D, Liu J, Morel A . Human pallidothalamic and cerebellothalamic tracts: anatomical basis for functional stereotactic neurosurgery . Brain Struct Funct . 212 . 6 . 443–63 . August 2008 . 18193279 . 2494572 . 10.1007/s00429-007-0170-0 .
2. Book: Estomih Mtui . Gregory Gruener . Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access . Saunders . Philadelphia . 2006 . 359 . 1-4160-3445-5 .