Where are the basal ganglia located within the cerebral hemispheres?

The basal ganglia are a group of large gray matter nuclei located deep within the cerebral hemispheres, situated beneath the cerebral cortex.12

Their specific anatomical positioning within the hemispheres includes:

• Putamen: Located deep within the cortex of the insular lobe.1
• Caudate Nucleus: Features a C-shaped configuration that parallels the lateral ventricle. Its head protrudes into the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle, its body lies lateral and superior to the thalamus, and its tail is positioned in the roof of the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle.1
• Globus Pallidus: Situated between the putamen and the internal capsule.1
• Amygdala: Located in the medial parts of the temporal lobe, ventral to the corpus striatum and underlying the uncus.1

Together, the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus form the corpus striatum, which serves as a critical component of the brain's motor and limbic circuits.31