Putamen

Putamen
Putamen (in red) shown within the brain
Coronal section of brain through intermediate mass of third ventricle. (Putamen labeled at top.)
Details
Part of	Dorsal striatum
Identifiers
MeSH	D011699
NeuroNames	230
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_809
TA98	A14.1.09.507
TA2	5566
FMA	61834
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Putamen" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The putamen (/pjuˈteɪmən/; 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 nuclei. Through various pathways, the putamen is connected to the substantia nigra, the globus pallidus, the claustrum, and the thalamus, in addition to many regions of the cerebral cortex. A primary function of the putamen is to regulate movements at various stages (e.g. preparation and execution) and influence various types of learning. It employs GABA, acetylcholine, and enkephalin to perform its functions. The putamen also plays a role in degenerative neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.