BASAL NUCLEI (BASAL GANGLIA)

1. Caudate nucleus. 2. Lentiform nucleus. 3. Amygdaloid body. 4. Claustrum.

The caudate and lentiform together are called corpus striatum.

1) Caudate nucleus
Shape : Comma shaped , curved, mass of grey matter. Parts : head,body and tail.

Relations: Head: -Large and anterior. -Forms the lateral wall and the floor of the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle.

Body: It arches upwards and backwards ,So it becomes above and lateral to the thalamus (suprathalamic) forming part of the floor of the central part of the lateral ventricle

Tail: Curves downwards and forwards in the roof of the inferior horn of lateral ventricle in the temporal lobe . It ends at the amygdaloid nucleus.

(2) Lentiform nucleus Shape

It resembles abiconvex lens , Hence its name .

Parts :They are divided by the lateral medullary lamina into:

(1)Putamen: the larger, darker and lateral part.

(2) Globus pallidus: the smaller, paler and medial It is divided by the medial medullary lamina into medial and lateral segments.

Surfaces and relations:

Lateral surface:
Slightly convex and related to the external capsule which separate it from claustrum and insula. Medial surface: Highly convex and related to the internal capsule which separates it from the head of caudate (anteriorly) and thalamus (posteriorly )

INSULA
Def :

apart of the cerebral cortex which is hidden in the bottom of lateral sulcus and appears when lips of the sulcus are separated .

Claustrum:
It is a thin sheet of grey matter between the lentiform nucleus and insula; separated from the lentiform nucleus by the external capsule. the clastrum has connections with the sensory cortex.

Amygdoloid body or complex or amygdala:

It is an irregular complex of nuclei that lies just above the tip of the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle deep to the uncus. Connected to the tail of caudate nucleus. It is divided into three parts: Corticomedial group of nuclei: Are reciprocally connected with olfactory structures. Basolateral group of nuclei: Forms part of the limbic system. Central nucleus: connected with visceral sensory and motor nuclei of the brain stem.

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