basal nuclei

Definition: nucleus of the cerebral hemisphere that originally included the caudate and lenticular nuclei, the claustrum, and the amygdaloid body (complex); functionally the term basal nuclei now specifies the caudate and lenticular nuclei; adjacent cell groups (subthalamic nucleus; substantia nigra and partes compacta and reticulata) having important connections with the basal nuclei have frequenty, but incorrectly, been described as being part of this cell group; amygdaloid complex now known to be part of the limbic system;

Synonym(s): nuclei basalesTA

See Also: basal ganglia, under ganglion

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