[TA] nucleus of the cerebral hemisphere that originally included the caudate and lenticular nuclei, the claustrum, and the amygdaloid body (complex); functionally the term basal nuclei now specifies the caudate and lenticular nuclei; adjacent cell groups (subthalamic nucleus; substantia nigra and partes compacta and reticulata) having important connections with the basal nuclei have frequenty, but incorrectly, been described as being part of this cell group; amygdaloid complex now known to be part of the limbic system;basal ganglia, under ganglion. SYN: nuclei basales [TA].
