Cerebral cortex is divided into [several parts]: primary motor cortex, supplementary motor

cortex, premotor cortex, prefrontal cortex, primary somatosensory cortex. And these cortical
areas involved in motor movement, actually needed help from other brain circuits in order to
orchestrate the movement.
One of these circuit involved group of structure known as basal nuclei
Basal Nuclei

important role in posture, voluntary movements, learning and memory

Not responsible for the execution of movement, only for initiation facilitation
modulation of movement
Without the information from the basal nuclei, the cortex is unable to properly direct
motor control, (e.g Parkinsons disease)
Previously referred to as Basal ganglia(ganglia - outside the nervous system)
Basal to denote the position of nuclei at the base of the brain

Neurologic
Structure
Caudate nucleus
Lentiform nucleus
Claustrum
Corpus striatum
Neostriatum (or
striatum)
Amygdaloid body

Basal Nucleus
(Nuclei)
Caudate nucleus
Globus pallidus plus
putamen
Claustrum
Caudate nucleus plus
lentiform nucleus
Caudate nucleus plus
putamen
Amygdaloid nucleus

Anatomy of Basal Nuclei

Collection of masses of gray matter situated deep within each hemisphere.

a. Corpus striatum
o Caudate nucleus
o Lentiform nucleus
i. Putamen

ii. Globus Pallidus

b. Amygdaloid nucleus
c. Claustrum
Corpus striatum

Parts
A.

Lateral to the thalamus

Internal capsule band of nerve fibers which divide it into the caudate nucleus and
the lentiform nucleus
Striated appearance due to strands of gray matter passing through internal capsule
and connecting caudate nucleus to putamen
Caudate Nucleus
Large , C-shaped mass of gray matter closely related to lateral ventricles
Head of the caudate nucleus
- continuous inferiorly with putamen of lentiform nucleus (neostriatum); just
superior to this union, strands of gray matter pass through the internal
capsule large and rounded
forms lateral wall of anterior horn of lateral ventricle
Body of caudate nucleus
- long and narrow
- continuous with the head in the region of the interventricular foramen
Tail of caudate nucleus
- long and slender
- enters the temporal lobe and terminates anteriorly in the
amygdala/amygdaloid nucleus

Note: Functionally and histologically, Caudate and Putamen are similar. Anatomically,
Putamen and Globus Pallidus lie close together and are shaped like a lens

B. Lentiform Nucleus
Wedge shaped mass of gray matter which is divided into the putamen and
globus pallidus.
Separated from Caudate nucleus by the internal capsule
Broad convex base directed laterally
Blade directed medially
Medial to internal capsule, which separates it from the caudate nucleus and
the thalamus
Lateral to a thin sheet of white matter (the external capsule) which separates
it from a thin sheet of gray matter (the claustrum)
Divided into putamen & globus pallidus
Putamen
o Larger, darker, lateral
o Inferiorly at its anterior end, it is continuous with the head of caudate
nucleus
Globus Pallidus
o Inner, lighter
o Paleness due to presence of high concentration of myelinated nerve
fibers
Globus pallidus and Putamen are separated by lateral medullary lamina
Globus lies medial to putamen and is divided by two parts
o Lateral and external segment
o Medial and internal segment
Note: Putamen, Caudate nucleus, Globus Phallidus consist of medium spiny neurons

Claustrum

thin sheet of gray matter

separated from the lateral surface of the lentiform nucleus by the external capsule
Function unknown

Amygdaloid nucleus

situated in temporal lobe close to uncus

anatomically related to the basal nuclei
functionally part of limbic system
Can influence the body's response to environmental changes
For example, in the sense of fear, it can change the heart rate, blood pressure, skin
color, and rate of respiration

Subthalmic nuclei and Substantia Nigra

Functionally related to but not anatomically part of Basal Nuclei

Subthalamic nuclei part of diencephalon of subthalamus
Substansia Nigra part of midbrain, two group of neuron pars compacta, and pars
reticulate

Connections of the Corpus Striatum and Globus Pallidus

Caudate nucleus and putamen (striatum) main sites for receiving input to the
basal nuclei
o Parts of Striatum
Dorsal part caudate nuclei and putamen
Ventral nucleus accumbens (of limbic system)
Globus Phallidus- major site from which output leaves basal nuclei
Receive no direct input from or output to the spinal cord

Afferent and efferent connections

Input/Afferent (to the Caudate NucleusPutamen)

cerebral cortex (main)

Thalamus
Substansia nigra
Brainstem

Output/Efferent (going to substantia

nigra)

thalamus (main)
subthalamus
Midbrain

Cortical areas
Project to putamen
The primary motor area
(area4)
premotor area (lateral area6)
supplementary motor (medial
area 6)
somatosensory (area 3,1, 2 )

Project to Caudate nuclei

frontal eye field (area 8)
association areas of frontal
and parietal

Caudate nucleus/putamen (Afferent and efferent connections)

A. Afferent Fibers
1. Corticostriate Fibers
Each part of cerebral cortex projects axons to specific parts of the
caudate-putamen complex
Most projections are from the cortex of the same side
Largest input is from sensory-motor cortex
Neurotransmitter is glutamate

2. Thalamostriate Fibers
Intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus send large numbers of axons to
caudate nucleus and putamen
3. Nigrostriate Fibers
Neurons in substantia nigra send axons to caudate nucleus and putamen
Liberate dopamine at their terminals as neurotransmitter
o Based on the type of receptor, this input may be either excitatory
(D1) or inhibitory (D2)
4.

Brainstem Striatal Fibers

Ascending fibers from the brainstem end in the caudate nucleus and
putamen
Liberate serotonin at their terminals as neurotransmitter
Thought to be inhibitory

B. Efferent Fibers
1. Striatopallidal Fibers
Striatopallidal fibers pass from the caudate nucleus and putamen to the
globus pallidus
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as neurotransmitter
2. Striatonigral Fibers
Striatonigral fibers pass from the caudate nucleus and putamen to the
substantia nigra
Some fibers use GABA or acetylcholine as neurotransmitter, others use
substance P
Connections of the globus phallidus (afferent and efferent connections)

A.

B.

Afferent Fibers
1. Striatopallidal Fibers
Pass from the caudate nucleus and putamen to the globus pallidus
GABA neurotransmitters
Efferent Fibers
1. Pallidofugal Fibers
Complicated and can be divided into groups:
ansa lenticularis - pass to the thalamic nuclei
fasciculus lenticularis - pass to the subthalamus

pallidotegmental fibers - terminate in the caudal tegmentum of the

midbrain
pallidosubthalamic fibers - pass to the subthalamic nuclei