The lentiform nucleus, or lenticular nucleus, comprises the

putamen The putamen (; from Latin, meaning "nutshell") is a round structure located at the base of the forebrain (telencephalon). The putamen and caudate nucleus together form the dorsal striatum. It is also one of the structures that compose the basal n ...

and the

globus pallidus The globus pallidus (GP), also known as paleostriatum or dorsal pallidum, is a subcortical structure of the brain. It consists of two adjacent segments, one external, known in rodents simply as the globus pallidus, and one internal, known in rod ...

within the

basal ganglia The basal ganglia (BG), or basal nuclei, are a group of subcortical nuclei, of varied origin, in the brains of vertebrates. In humans, and some primates, there are some differences, mainly in the division of the globus pallidus into an extern ...

. With the

caudate nucleus The caudate nucleus is one of the structures that make up the corpus striatum, which is a component of the basal ganglia in the human brain. While the caudate nucleus has long been associated with motor processes due to its role in Parkinson's di ...

, it forms the

dorsal striatum The striatum, or corpus striatum (also called the striate nucleus), is a nucleus (a cluster of neurons) in the subcortical basal ganglia of the forebrain. The striatum is a critical component of the motor and reward systems; receives glutama ...

. It is a large, lens-shaped mass of

gray matter Grey matter is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil (dendrites and unmyelinated axons), glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), synapses, and capillaries. Grey matter is distingui ...

just lateral to the

internal capsule The internal capsule is a white matter structure situated in the inferomedial part of each cerebral hemisphere of the brain. It carries information past the basal ganglia, separating the caudate nucleus and the thalamus from the putamen and the ...

Structure

When divided horizontally, it exhibits, to some extent, the appearance of a biconvex lens, while a

coronal section The coronal plane (also known as the frontal plane) is an anatomical plane that divides the body into Anatomical terms of location#Dorsal and ventral, dorsal and ventral sections. It is perpendicular to the sagittal plane, sagittal and transverse ...

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 The thalamus (from Greek θάλαμος, "chamber") is a large mass of gray matter located in the dorsal part of the diencephalon (a division of the forebrain). Nerve fibers project out of the thalamus to the cerebral cortex in all directions, ...

, and is seen only in sections of the hemisphere. It is bounded laterally by a lamina of white substance called the

external capsule The external capsule is a series of white matter fiber tracts in the brain. These fibers run between the most lateral (toward the side of the head) segment of the lentiform nucleus (more specifically the putamen) and the claustrum. The white matt ...

, and lateral to this is a thin layer of gray substance termed the

claustrum The claustrum (Latin, meaning "to close" or "to shut") is a thin, bilateral collection of neurons and supporting glial cells, that connects to cortical (e.g., the pre-frontal cortex) and subcortical regions (e.g., the thalamus) of the brain. It ...

. 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 laminae are seen dividing it into three parts. The lateral and largest part is of a reddish color, and is known as the

, while the medial and intermediate are of a yellowish tint, and together constitute the

; all three are marked by fine radiating white fibers, which are most distinct in the putamen.

Function

Pathology

Increased volume of the lentiform nuclei has been observed in

obsessive–compulsive disorder Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental and behavioral disorder in which an individual has intrusive thoughts and/or feels the need to perform certain routines repeatedly to the extent where it induces distress or impairs general ...

, with decreased volume conversely observed in other anxiety disorders. The lentiform nucleus is also involved in the pathology of

Wilson's disease Wilson's disease is a genetic disorder in which excess copper builds up in the body. Symptoms are typically related to the brain and liver. Liver-related symptoms include vomiting, weakness, fluid build up in the abdomen, swelling of the legs, ...

as it is one of the neuroanatomical locations of copper deposition.

Etymology

The name comes from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

and means

lens A lens is a transmissive optical device which focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements''), ...

-shaped, probably referring to the appearance of the nucleus from the side.

Gallery

File:Gray678.png, Schematic representation of the chief ganglionic categories (I to V) File:Gray683.png, Dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view. File:Gray689.png, Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Ventral view. File:Gray710.png, Transverse section through mid-brain File:Gray730.png, Section of brain showing upper surface of temporal lobe File:Gray717.png, Coronal section of brain immediately in front of pons File:Gray743.png, Coronal section through anterior cornua of lateral ventricles File:Slide2GRE.JPG, Ventricles of brain and basal ganglia. Superior view. Horizontal section. Deep dissection File:Slide3GRE.JPG, Ventricles of brain and basal ganglia. Superior view. Horizontal section. Deep dissection

References

External links

* {{Authority control Basal ganglia