The putamen and caudate nucleus together form the dorsal striatum. The dorsal striatum consists of the caudate nucleus and the putamen. The dorsal striatum is composed of the caudate nucleus and the putamen. Other connections include the claustrum, the dorsolateral caudate nucleus, putamen, and the zona incerta. Both regions acquire input from the putamen and caudate and communicate with the subthalamic nucleus. Calcifications in the caudate, dentate nuclei, putamen and thalami are also common. The lesions caused by asphyxia are most prominent on the caudate nucleus and the putamen. The caudate works with the putamen to receive the input from cerebral cortex. The SNpr also obtains input from the putamen and caudate. Projections from the putamen reach the caudate directly via the caudolenticular grey bridges. For many years, the putamen and the caudate nucleus were not associated with each other. GABAergic projections of the putamen have an inhibitory effect on the thalamus. The SNpc obtains input from the putamen and caudate, and sends information back. The putamen is the outermost portion of the basal ganglia. The putamen, together with the globus pallidus, makes up the lentiform nucleus.