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Basal ganglia

(Science: anatomy) three large subcortical nuclei of the vertebrate brain: the putamen, the caudate nucleus and the globus pallidus.

They participate in the control of movement along with the cerebellum, the corticospinal system and other descending motor systems. Lesions of the basal ganglia occur in a variety of motor disorders including parkinsons disease and Huntingdon's chorea.