ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the concept of the contribution of basal ganglia system to lower urinary tract function as well as to general motor function. It is well known that disorders of basal ganglia, such as Parkinson’s disease, can affect the lower urinary tract function. The basal ganglia are a group of anatomically closely related subcortical nuclei and have been implicated in a wide range of behavioral functions including motor, cognitive, and emotional functions. The basal ganglia consist of several subcortical nuclei, including the striatum, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic progressive neurological disease that is characterized by a decrease in spontaneous movements, gait difficulty, postural instability, rigidity, and tremor. Various therapeutic options are available for voiding dysfunction in patients with Parkinson’s disease, but it should be noted that these patients might have another causes leading to voiding dysfunction such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is common in the elderly.
