Final answer:
The basal nuclei are responsible for controlling motor functions in the brain and include structures such as the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus, part of the striatum, with links to Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in question refers to the basal nuclei, which are a group of functionally related nuclei located bilaterally in the inferior cerebrum, diencephalon, and midbrain. They are the largest nuclei in the brain and play a crucial role in controlling motor functions. The basal nuclei are involved in assessing cortical movement commands and comparing them with the general state of the individual through broad modulatory activity of dopamine neurons.
Notable structures within the basal nuclei that control movement include the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus, collectively known as the striatum, with the globus pallidus being divided into external and internal segments. Dysfunctions in these structures are related to motor diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Additionally, the substantia nigra pars compacta, part of the basal nuclei, releases dopamine to modulate the function of the striatum and is involved in the motor pathway.