The nuclei of the basal ganglia are paired structures, one member of each pair located within each hemisphere. The caudate nucleus is bordered laterally by the fibers of the corpus callosum and medially by a fluid-filled cavity, the lateral ventricle . The head lies in the middle caudal part of the frontal lobe. The body is located in the inferior parietal lobe. The tail courses ventrally to terminate in the upper temporal lobe.
Putamen is continuous with and lies inferior to the head of caudate nucleus in the temporal lobe.
The caudate nucleus and the lenticular nucleus are separated by the fibers of the internal capsule. In turn, they provide output to the thalamus and to substantia nigra , a nucleus in the midbrain and, through thalamus, to primary, supplementary and premotor cortices. These connections are part of the diffuse extrapyramidal pathway , an important motor pathway in the brain. The basal ganglia are essential for the execution of normal volitional movements. Basal ganglia appear to facilitate the execution of purposeful movement patterns and inhibit unwanted movements.