The putamen is one of the
brain's
subcortical nuclei.
It's part of the
basal ganglia, which also consists of the
caudate and the
globus pallidus (and,
depending on who you ask, the
amygdala, the
nucleus accumbens, and the
substantia nigra as well). The putamen is involved in the control of movement, but its exact role is unclear. It degenerates in
Huntington's chorea, although the most severe degeneration is seen in the caudate.