What is the 'substantia nigra'?

What is the 'substantia nigra'?

Neal Hermanowicz (Director of the Movement Disorders Program) gives expert video advice on: What hallucinations are associated with Parkinson's? and more...

Substantia nigra is a very small part of the brain that sits at the top of the section called the brain stem. It's about half the size of your thumbnail, but it's a crucial part for the normal maintenance of mobility and it is the site classically in the destruction of brain cells in Parkinsons disease. These are where a large number of Dopamine-synthesizing brain cells are located and are being lost by whatever this process of Parkinsons disease is.