Lentiform nucleus
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| Brain: Lentiform nucleus | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Two views of a model of the striatum: A, lateral aspect; B, mesal aspect. | ||
| Latin | nucleus lentiformis | |
| Gray's | subject #189 834 | |
| NeuroNames | ancil-253 | |
| MeSH | Corpus+Striatum | |
The lentiform nucleus or lenticular nucleus describes the putamen and the globus pallidus within the basal ganglia. It is a large, cone-shaped mass of gray matter just lateral to the internal capsule.
Etymology
The name comes from Latin and means lens-shaped, probably referring to the appearance of the nucleus from the side.
Sections and size
When divided horizontally, it exhibits, to some extent, the appearance of a biconvex lens, while a coronal section of its central part presents a somewhat triangular outline.
It is shorter than the caudate nucleus and does not extend as far forward.
Boundaries
It is lateral to the caudate nucleus and thalamus, and is seen only in sections of the hemisphere.
It is bounded laterally by a lamina of white substance called the external capsule, and lateral to this is a thin layer of gray substance termed the claustrum.
Its anterior end is continuous with the lower part of the head of the caudate nucleus and with the anterior perforated substance.
Components
In a coronal section through the middle of the lentiform nucleus, two medullary laminæ are seen dividing it into three parts.
The lateral and largest part is of a reddish color, and is known as the putamen, while the medial and intermediate are of a yellowish tint, and together constitute the globus pallidus; all three are marked by fine radiating white fibers, which are most distinct in the putamen.
Additional images
 Schematic representation of the chief ganglionic categories (I to V). |
 Dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view. |
 Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Ventral view. |
 Coronal section through mid-brain. |
 Section of brain showing upper surface of temporal lobe. |
 Coronal section of brain immediately in front of pons. |
 Coronal section through anterior cornua of lateral ventricles. |
External links
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
