Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Anatomy

Function

Associated Conditions

Treatment

“Ganglia” is the plural of the word “ganglion.” Ganglia are clusters of nerve cell bodies found throughout the body. They are part of theperipheral nervous system (PNS)and carry nerve signals to and from thecentral nervous system (CNS). Ganglia are divided into two broad categories: the sensory ganglia and the motor ganglia (which are associated with the autonomic nervous system).

This article discusses the anatomy and function of ganglia, as well as their associated conditions and treatments.

Ganglia are clusters of nerve cell bodies.

Neurons (nerve cells), which are considered the building blocks of the nervous system, typically have three parts:

What Is the Difference Between a Nerve and a Ganglion?Anerverefers to a bundle of axons, whereas aganglionrefers to a cluster of neuronal cell bodies.

What Is the Difference Between a Nerve and a Ganglion?

Anerverefers to a bundle of axons, whereas aganglionrefers to a cluster of neuronal cell bodies.

Structure

There are two types of ganglia in our bodies—sensory and motor:

Location

Sensory ganglialocations include:

One portion of these sensory ganglia connects to the PNS. The other is connected to the CNS via the brain orspinal cord.

Motor ganglialocations include:

Motor ganglia are part of theautonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls involuntary movements and functions, like your breathing.

What Are Basal Ganglia?The basal ganglia are located in the brain stem, thalamus, and cerebral cortex areas of the brain. Being in the brain, they are part of the CNS, not the PNS, as other ganglia are.Clusters of neuronal cell bodies in the CNS are typically referred to as nuclei, not ganglia.However, the basal ganglia is one exception.This group of structures is important in regulating voluntary movements. In addition to playing a role in motor control, this part of the brain is also involved in other complex processes like cognition and emotion.

What Are Basal Ganglia?

The basal ganglia are located in the brain stem, thalamus, and cerebral cortex areas of the brain. Being in the brain, they are part of the CNS, not the PNS, as other ganglia are.Clusters of neuronal cell bodies in the CNS are typically referred to as nuclei, not ganglia.However, the basal ganglia is one exception.This group of structures is important in regulating voluntary movements. In addition to playing a role in motor control, this part of the brain is also involved in other complex processes like cognition and emotion.

The basal ganglia are located in the brain stem, thalamus, and cerebral cortex areas of the brain. Being in the brain, they are part of the CNS, not the PNS, as other ganglia are.

Clusters of neuronal cell bodies in the CNS are typically referred to as nuclei, not ganglia.However, the basal ganglia is one exception.

This group of structures is important in regulating voluntary movements. In addition to playing a role in motor control, this part of the brain is also involved in other complex processes like cognition and emotion.

Ganglia function as the relay stations of the body’s nervous system: As one nerve enters a ganglion, another nerve exits it. Ganglia play an essential role in connecting the parts of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Motor Function

Motor ganglia can:

Sensory Function

Sensory ganglia, or dorsal root ganglia, can:

There are a number of conditions that can affect the ganglia in the body.

Conditions Affecting Ganglia in the PNS

Damage to the ganglia in the PNS can cause a variety of neurological problems. Symptoms depend largely on which types of ganglia are affected.

For example,glaucomais the result of vision-related ganglia damage.Similarly, an injury to the dorsal root ganglia in the spine, such as spinal vertebrae compression, can cause sensory issues, like tingling in the feet.

Conditions that affect the PNS can also impact the ganglia. Damage to the PNS can happen due to:

Conditions Affecting the Basal Ganglia

Conditions or injuries that may affect the basal ganglia include:

The following conditions are known to affect the basal ganglia in the brain and voluntary movement:

Unsurprisingly, conditions or injuries involving the basal ganglia are extremely serious and often lead to permanent disability or death.

Treatment may vary depending on the cause of ganglia damage. It also depends on which ganglia have been damaged.

Some causes of basal ganglia damage, for instance, are reversible and respond well to rehabilitation. Treatments are also available for heavy metal poisoning. Depending on the individual, there may not be any lingering symptoms after treatment.

However, in the case of Parkinson’s disease, damage to the basal ganglia is part of a progressive illness. Currently, there’s no cure for this disease. Degenerative diseases that affect ganglia in the PNS may not be treatable.

People with severe head trauma that impacts the basal ganglia may not recover. If they do, they may end up with a permanent disability.

Summary

Ganglia are clusters of nerve cell bodies located in the PNS. The basal ganglia, which is located in the CNS, is one exception. Ganglia function as relay stations, carrying information (to and from the CNS) relating to sensory and involuntary motor function. These structures may be susceptible to damage resulting from injury, infection, and more. Symptoms and treatments may vary depending on the cause of ganglia damage.

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.University of Michigan School of Medicine.Michigan histology and virtual microscopy learning resources: peripheral nervous system.McGill University.The motor cortex.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Glaucoma and the brain.Haberberger R V, et al.Human dorsal root ganglia. Front. Cell. Neurosci. (2019). doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00271Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overview of nervous system disorders.MedlinePlus.Basal ganglia dysfunction.Calderon-Miranda WG, Alvis-Miranda HR, Alcala-Cerra G, M Rubiano A, Moscote-Salazar LR.Bilateral traumatic basal ganglia hemorrhage associated with epidural hematoma: Case report and literature review.Bull Emerg Trauma. 2014;2(3):130-132.

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.University of Michigan School of Medicine.Michigan histology and virtual microscopy learning resources: peripheral nervous system.McGill University.The motor cortex.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Glaucoma and the brain.Haberberger R V, et al.Human dorsal root ganglia. Front. Cell. Neurosci. (2019). doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00271Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overview of nervous system disorders.MedlinePlus.Basal ganglia dysfunction.Calderon-Miranda WG, Alvis-Miranda HR, Alcala-Cerra G, M Rubiano A, Moscote-Salazar LR.Bilateral traumatic basal ganglia hemorrhage associated with epidural hematoma: Case report and literature review.Bull Emerg Trauma. 2014;2(3):130-132.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.University of Michigan School of Medicine.Michigan histology and virtual microscopy learning resources: peripheral nervous system.McGill University.The motor cortex.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Glaucoma and the brain.Haberberger R V, et al.Human dorsal root ganglia. Front. Cell. Neurosci. (2019). doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00271Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overview of nervous system disorders.MedlinePlus.Basal ganglia dysfunction.Calderon-Miranda WG, Alvis-Miranda HR, Alcala-Cerra G, M Rubiano A, Moscote-Salazar LR.Bilateral traumatic basal ganglia hemorrhage associated with epidural hematoma: Case report and literature review.Bull Emerg Trauma. 2014;2(3):130-132.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.

University of Michigan School of Medicine.Michigan histology and virtual microscopy learning resources: peripheral nervous system.

McGill University.The motor cortex.

Glaucoma Research Foundation.Glaucoma and the brain.

Haberberger R V, et al.Human dorsal root ganglia. Front. Cell. Neurosci. (2019). doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00271

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overview of nervous system disorders.

MedlinePlus.Basal ganglia dysfunction.

Calderon-Miranda WG, Alvis-Miranda HR, Alcala-Cerra G, M Rubiano A, Moscote-Salazar LR.Bilateral traumatic basal ganglia hemorrhage associated with epidural hematoma: Case report and literature review.Bull Emerg Trauma. 2014;2(3):130-132.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?