Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Direct pathway
Introduction
The striatum modulates movement by two pathways: a direct pathway and an indirect pathway.
In the direct pathway, striatal neurons directly inhibit neurons in the globus pallidus internus, which reduces the inhibition of the thalamic neurons responsible for excitation of the premotor cortex.
Thus, the direct pathway facilitates movement, and anything inhibiting it (e.g. Parkinson’s disease) causes akinesia.