Coronal Section - Caudate Nucleus

The head of the caudate nucleus is the enlarged anterior portion of the caudate nucleus, a C-shaped structure that forms an integral component of the basal ganglia. Located in the frontal region of the brain, it lies lateral to the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle and medial to the anterior limb of the internal capsule. The caudate nucleus receives extensive input from the cerebral cortex and works in close association with the putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus and substantia nigra to regulate voluntary movement, motor planning, procedural learning, memory, motivation and cognitive functions. Dysfunction of the caudate nucleus is associated with several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Huntington's disease, where early degeneration causes chorea and cognitive decline, as well as Parkinson's disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and certain forms of dementia.