The putamen is the outer, larger part of the lentiform nucleus, lying lateral to the globus pallidus and medial to the external capsule. With the caudate nucleus it forms the dorsal striatum. It is the main input station of the basal ganglia for motor signals from the cortex.
| Location | Lateral part of the lentiform nucleus, between the globus pallidus and the external capsule |
|---|---|
| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Lenticulostriate arteries (middle cerebral artery) |
Receives motor commands from the cortex and helps select, scale and automate movements and motor habits.
The putamen is the most common site of hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage, which often spreads into the internal capsule. Dopamine loss is greatest in the putamen in Parkinson disease, which is why motor symptoms dominate. It is also affected in multiple system atrophy and by toxins such as methanol.
The most common type of hypertensive brain bleed, causing hemiplegia and sensory loss.
Severe dopamine depletion of the putamen causing slowness, rigidity and tremor.
Neurodegeneration including the putamen, causing parkinsonism that responds poorly to levodopa.
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