NETTER - Neuroscience Flash Cards

Horizontal Brain Sections Showing
the Basal Ganglia
1. Genu of corpus callosum
2. Head of caudate nucleus
3. Columns of the fornix
4. Internal capsule (anterior limb, genu, posterior limb)
5. Insular cortex
6. Putamen
7. Globus pallidus
8. Claustrum
9. Tail of caudate nucleus
10. Choroid plexus of lateral ventricle
11. Occipital (posterior) horn of lateral ventricle
Comment: The basal ganglia are a collection of telencephalic nuclei
(caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus) and their associated
tracts, as well as selected associated subtelencephalic nuclei
(subthalamus, substantia nigra). Collectively, the basal ganglia share
loops of circuitry with the thalamus and associated cortical regions
and assist the cortex in selecting wanted subroutines of activity and
suppressing unwanted subroutines of activity. The basal ganglia
are particularly conspicuous when damaged, related to movement
disorders (tremors, rigidity, choreoathetosis, dystonia, ballismus),
although the basal ganglia are involved in modulating activity in
many types of cortical function other than just motor function. The
axial (horizontal) sections are particularly useful for revealing the
association of basal ganglia telencephalic nuclei with the thalamus
and intervening internal capsule.
Overview of the Nervous System See book 3.13