Nucleus, Caudate

Definition

The caudate nucleus is one of the deep telencephalic nuclei consisting of a large globular head that occupies the rostral part of the hemispheric wall, an elongated body that arches upward and backward over the internal capsule and a long slender tail that arches downward and forward into the temporal lobe in relation to the hippocampus and amygdaloid complex. The caudate nucleus receives massive cortical inputs largely from the frontal lobe and a number of subcortical inputs, particularly from intralaminar thalamic nuclei and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. It projects strongly to the globus pallidus and substantia nigra.

Basal Ganglia

Striatopallidum