basal ganglia
a group of nuclei (neuron cell bodies) deep within the cerebral hemispheres of the brain that includes the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nucleus. The putamen and globus pallidus are together known as the lenticular (or lentiform) nucleus, the lenticular nucleus and caudate nucleus are together known as the corpus striatum, and the caudate nucleus and putamen are together called the striatum. The basal ganglia are involved in the generation of goal-directed voluntary movement. Also called basal nuclei.