basal ganglia

• In current usage, the phrase 'basal ganglia' means: the caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus.

• They are functionally important, at a minimum, for controlling voluntary movements and establishing postures. When they are altered - say in disorders like Huntington disease or Wilson disease - the person has unwanted movements, such as involuntary jerking movements of an arm or leg or spasmodic movement of facial muscles.

• The caudate nucleus and putamen along with the interposed anterior limb of the internal capsule are collectively known as the corpus striatum (i.e. striated body) because of their appearance.

• Similarly, the shape of the putamen and globus pallidus resembles a lens, and they are collectively called the lenticular nucleus.

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Wilson Disease

Huntington Disease

Tourette Syndrome