Basal ganglia (Latin)

Left lateral perspective of the brain, with left sided instances of the basal ganglia represented. The nucleus caudatus is an elongated, C-shaped structure that consists of the caput (head), corpus (body) and cauda (tail). The tail extends as far anteriorly/rostrally as the amygdala or corpus amygdaloideum, which is not part of the nucleus caudatus. Closely related to the caput nuclei caudati is the nucleus accumbens, a structure involved in the perception of pleasure that is considered to be a part of the limbic system. Continuous with the caput nuclei caudati is the putamen, a rounded structure which is the most lateral component of the basal ganglia. The globus pallidus is situated medially to the putamen and is divided into a pars lateralis (/pars externus) and pars medialis (/pars internus). Also represented in the image are two important structures functionally related to the basal ganglia: the nucleus subthalamicus and the substantia nigra, located in the subthalamus and mesencephalon, respectively. Central in this image and lying medially to the basal ganglia is the thalamus. The thalamus has important connections with the basal ganglia.