| Subthalamic nucleus | |
|---|---|
 Coronal slices of human brain showing the basal ganglia (external globus pallidus (GPe) and internal globus pallidus (GPi)), subthalamic nucleus (STN) and substantia nigra (SN). | |
 DA-loops in Parkinson's disease | |
| Details | |
| Part of | Subthalamus (physically); basal ganglia (functionally) |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nucleus subthalamicus |
| Acronym(s) | STN |
| MeSH | D020531 |
| NeuroNames | 435 |
| NeuroLex ID | nlx_anat_1010002 |
| TA98 | A14.1.08.702 |
| TA2 | 5709 |
| FMA | 62035 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a small lens-shaped nucleus in the brain where it is, from a functional point of view, part of the basal ganglia system. In terms of anatomy, it is the major part of the subthalamus. As suggested by its name, the subthalamic nucleus is located ventral to the thalamus. It is also dorsal to the substantia nigra and medial to the internal capsule. It was first described by Jules Bernard Luys in 1865,[1] and the term corpus Luysi or Luys' body is still sometimes used.