Anatomy · Neuroanatomy

Basal ganglia and clinical correlations

7 min read

  • Basal nuclei (basal ganglia): grey matter masses in the basal white core of each cerebral hemisphere, lateral to thalamus, forming the extrapyramidal system.
  • Anatomically: corpus striatum, claustrum, amygdaloid body; functionally also substantia nigra and subthalamus.

Corpus Striatum: Parts

Parts of the corpus striatum

Structure

Caudate nucleus

Shape and location
Comma-shaped; surrounds thalamus; head, body, tail form floor of anterior horn, floor of central part, and roof of inferior horn of lateral ventricle
Subdivided by
Parts
Head, body, tail

Lentiform nucleus

Shape and location
Lens-shaped; deep to insula; lateral boundary of internal capsule
Subdivided by
External medullary lamina
Parts
Putamen (lateral), globus pallidus (medial)