Extrapyramidal Disorders

Extrapyramidal disorders are a spectrum of disorders involving the extrapyramidal system. Portions of the brain and brainstem that are not a part of the direct cortico-pyramidal system, including the neural pathways through basal ganglia, reticular formation of the brainstem, vestibular nuclei, and red nuclei, which primarily engage in motor control, is considered as the extrapyramidal system. The current chapter provides an overview of the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological structures of basal nuclei. The chapter also broadly covers the clinical manifestations, etiopathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, medical and surgical management, and physiotherapy evaluation and treatment of conditions including Parkinson’s disease, Wilson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, and progressive supranuclear palsy.