The caudate nucleus is a C-shaped mass of grey matter that curves alongside the lateral ventricle, with a large head bulging into the frontal horn, a body along the floor of the central part, and a thin tail in the roof of the temporal horn. It is separated from the putamen by the anterior limb of the internal capsule, but joined to it by grey bridges. Together, the caudate and putamen form the striatum.
| Location | Lateral wall of the lateral ventricle, from the frontal horn to the temporal horn |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Lenticulostriate arteries; Recurrent artery of Heubner; Anterior choroidal artery (tail) |
Takes part in goal-directed behaviour, learning, planning and eye movement control as part of the striatum.
The caudate head shrinks early in Huntington disease, making the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles look box-shaped on imaging. Caudate damage tends to cause behavioural and cognitive changes such as apathy and disinhibition more than movement problems. It is a site of hypertensive haemorrhage that may rupture into the ventricle.
Atrophy of the caudate head with chorea, psychiatric symptoms and cognitive decline.
Bleeding into the caudate that often spreads into the lateral ventricle, causing headache and confusion.
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