Putamen

Putamen

The Putamen is a round structure located at the base of the forebrain. It is one of the principal structures of the basal ganglia, which are a group of nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary movements, procedural learning, and habit formation.

Structure

The putamen is a large structure located within the brain. It is round in shape and is situated at the base of the forebrain. The putamen and the globus pallidus together form the lenticular nucleus. The putamen is separated from the globus pallidus by the medial medullary lamina, a thin white substance.

Function

The putamen plays a significant role in the function of the basal ganglia. It is involved in a variety of tasks related to movement and learning. The putamen receives inputs from various areas of the cerebral cortex and sends outputs to other components of the basal ganglia, such as the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra.

Clinical significance

Damage or degeneration of the putamen can lead to a variety of movement disorders. These include Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and dystonia. In Parkinson's disease, the degeneration of neurons in the putamen is associated with the characteristic motor symptoms of the disease, such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia.

See also

• Basal ganglia
• Globus pallidus
• Substantia nigra
• Parkinson's disease
• Huntington's disease

External links

• Putamen at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)