The Subthalamic Nucleus (STh) is an oval-shaped diencephalic structure located ventrally to the thalamus, playing a fundamental role in the circuitry of the basal ganglia. In addition to being involved in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease, the STh is one of the target nuclei for deep brain stimulation. However, most of the anatomical evidence available derives from non-human primate studies. In this review, we will present the topographical and morphological organization of the nucleus and its connections to structurally and functionally related regions of the basal ganglia circuitry. We will also highlight the importance of additional research in humans focused on validating STh connectivity, cytoarchitectural organization, and its functional subdivision.

丘脑底核（STh）是位于丘脑腹侧的椭圆形的脑形结构，在基底神经节的回路中起着基本作用。除了参与多种神经退行性疾病（例如亨廷顿氏病和帕金森氏病）的病理生理学之外，STh还是深部脑刺激的目标细胞核之一。但是，大多数可用的解剖学证据来自非人类的灵长类动物研究。在这篇综述中，我们将介绍核的地形和形态组织及其与基底神经节回路的结构和功能相关区域的联系。我们还将强调在人类中开展其他研究的重要性，这些研究的重点是验证STh连接性，细胞结构组织及其功能细分。