The term “basal ganglia” originally included the deep telencephalic nuclei: the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, claustrum, and nucleus accumbens. Additional structures now included within this group are the substantia nigra, the subthalamic nuclei, the ventral tegmental area, and the ventral pallidum. The globus pallidus and putamen are lens shaped and are called lenticular nuclei. Collectively the putamen and caudate are called the corpus striatum. One is very familiar with disease of the basal ganglia due to the widespread presence of Parkinson’s disease with its tremor at rest.