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Topic

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Putamen

The putamen is a large, rounded structure located deep within the brain, forming a major component of the basal ganglia. It plays a crucial role in motor control and a variety of neurological processes. The putamen is situated lateral to the globus pallidus and medial to the external capsule. Together with the caudate nucleus, it forms the neostriatum, and is involved in the regulation of voluntary movements and various cognitive functions.

Synonyms

  • Lentiform nucleus (when combined with the globus pallidus)

  • Neostriatum (with caudate nucleus)

  • Basal ganglia (as part of this group)

Function

  • Regulation and coordination of voluntary motor movements

  • Procedural learning and habit formation

  • Modulation of various types of learning, including reinforcement learning

  • Inhibition of involuntary movements

Arterial Supply

  • Primarily supplied by the lenticulostriate branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA)

  • Additional minor supply from the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and anterior choroidal artery

  • The lateral lenticulostriate arteries are especially significant for vascular supply

Venous Drainage

  • Venous blood from the putamen is mainly drained by the striate veins

  • These veins empty into the internal cerebral veins and then the great cerebral vein (of Galen)

MRI Appearance

  • T1-weighted imaging:

    • Putamen appears as an intermediate to low signal intensity area relative to cortical gray matter

  • T2-weighted imaging:

    • Putamen shows relatively high signal intensity compared to white matter but isointense or slightly hypointense compared to other gray matter

  • FLAIR imaging:

    • Putamen maintains gray matter signal; pathological conditions may cause abnormal hyperintensity

  • Post-contrast T1-weighted imaging:

    • Normal putamen does not enhance; enhancement may indicate pathology (e.g., neoplasm, inflammation)

CT Appearance

  • On non-contrast CT, the putamen is seen as a gray matter structure, slightly denser than the surrounding white matter

  • No enhancement in normal cases; abnormal enhancement suggests pathology

MRI images

Putamen mri 3t axial image

MRI images

Putamen mri 3t coronal image