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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arquivos Brasileiros de Neurocirurgia: Brazilian Neurosurgery 2020; 39(04): 284-288
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1615268
Review Article | Artigo de Revisão

Subthalamic Nucleus: Neuroanatomical Review

Núcleo subtalâmico: Revisão neuroanatômica
Marcelo José Silva de Magalhães 
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Vila da Serra, Nova Lima, MG, Brazil
,
Claudiojanes dos Reis
2   Discipline of Anatomy, Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG Brazil
,
Juliana Rabelo da Silva Sousa
3   Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
,
Victória Souza Marques
3   Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
,
Tayná Cardoso Gonçalves
3   Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
,
Iara Cristina Vieira Ribeiro
3   Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
,
Leide Daiana Silveira Cardoso
3   Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
,
Victor Caribé Crosland Guimarães
3   Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
,
Frederico Gustavo de Souza Marques
3   Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
,
Sarah Dias Pereira
3   Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas (FUNORTE), Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
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Abstract

Discovered in 1865 by Jules Bernard Luys, the subthalamic nucleus is a set of small nuclei located in the diencephalon, inferior to the thalamus and superior to the substantia nigra, that can be visualized in a posterior coronal section. Histologically, it consists of neurons compactly distributed and filled with a large number of blood vessels and sparse myelinated fibers. This review presents an analysis of this anatomical region, considering what is most recent in the literature. Subthalamic neurons are excitatory and use glutamate as the neurotransmitter. In healthy individuals, these neurons are inhibited by nerve cells located in the side globus pallidus. However, if the fibers that make up the afferent circuit are damaged, the neurons become highly excitable, thus causing motor disturbances that can be classified as hyperkinetic, for example ballism and chorea, or hypokinetic, for example Parkinson disease (PD). The advent of deep brain stimulation has given the subthalamic nucleus great visibility. Studies reveal that the stimulation of this nucleus improves the motor symptoms of PD.

Resumo

Descoberto em 1865 por Jules Bernard Luys, o núcleo subtalâmico (NST) é um conjunto de pequenos núcleos situados no diencéfalo, inferior ao tálamo e superior à substância negra, que pode ser visualizado em um corte coronal posterior. Histologicamente, consiste em neurônios distribuídos de forma compacta e preenchidos com um grande número de vasos sanguíneos e fibras mielinizadas dispersas. Esta revisão apresenta uma análise sobre essa região anatômica, considerando o que há na literatura a seu respeito. Os neurônios subtalâmicos são excitatórios e utilizam o glutamato como neurotransmissor. Em indivíduos saudáveis, esses neurônios são inibidos por células nervosas localizadas no globo pálido lateral. Contudo, se as fibras que compõem o circuito paleoestriado forem lesadas, os neurônios tornam-se altamente excitáveis, provocando assim distúrbios motores que podem ser classificados como: hipercinéticos, tais como balismo e coreia, ou hipocinéticos, por exemplo, doença de Parkinson (DP). O advento da estimulação cerebral profunda tem concedido grande visibilidade ao NST. Estudos destacam que a estimulação desse núcleo realmente ameniza os sintomas motores da DP.

Keywords

subthalamic nucleus - efferent pathways - chorea - Parkinson disease

Palavras-chave

núcleo subtalâmico - vias eferentes - coreia - doença de Parkinson


Publication History

Received: 23 July 2017

Accepted: 13 November 2017

Article published online:
18 December 2017

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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