: any of four deeply placed masses of gray matter (such as the amygdala) in each cerebral hemisphere
called alsobasal nucleus
Word History
First Known Use
1846, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
basal ganglion
noun
: any of four deeply placed masses of gray matter within each cerebral hemisphere comprising the caudate nucleus, the lentiform nucleus, the amygdala, and the claustrum—usually used in plural