Introduction

In order to understand the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease, it's important to first have a clear understanding of the neuroanatomy as well as the neurochemistry of the basal ganglia. This section will cover those topics as well as the neurologic processes that result in the development of parkinsonian conditions.

We'll start with an overview of the neuroanatomy of the basal ganglia, a large group of nuclei at the base of the cerebral cortex that controls movement, coordination, and affects voluntary movement.