Caudate Nucleus

 The Caudate Nucleus

        The caudate nucleus is a C-shaped mass of grey matter (Fig.14.1). It consists of a large head, a body and a thin tail. The nucleus is intimately related to the lateral ventricle. The head of the nucleus bulges into the anterior horn of the ventricle and forms the greater part of its floor (Fig.20.3). The body of the nucleus lies in the floor of the central part (Fig. 20.2); and the tail in the roof of the inferior horn of the ventricle (Fig. 20.5). The anterior part of the head of the caudate nucleus is fused, inferiorly, with the lentiform nucleus. This region of fusion is referred to as the fundusstriati. The fundus striati is continuous, inferiorly,with the anterior perforated substance. The anterior end of the tail of the caudate nucleus ends by becoming continuous with the lentiform nucleus. It lies in close relation to the amygdaloid complex.

        The body of the caudate nucleus is related medially to the thalamus, and laterally to the internal capsule which separates it from the lentiform nucleus (Fig. 14.2). Some other relationships of the caudate nucleus are shown in Fig. 13.2..