Basal Ganglia (Deep Brain Nuclei)

This is a life size model of the deep brain nuclei. The model includes the right hemisphere of the brain and the left-sided deep brain nuclei, which are accurate in size and anatomic arrangement. The basal ganglia includes the caudaute, putamen, globus pallidus externus, globus pallidus internus, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra. This model also includes the thalamus (which is typically not included when defining the basal ganglia) but is also a very important deep brain gray matter structure. This model also includes the red nucleus, which is not part of the basal ganglia, but it just felt right to print it with red filament. I use clear PETG support beams to suspend the nuclei in the correct anatomic positions.

These models will require supports when printing. I use Bambulab TPU 95A HF filament for supports with rectilinear grid and added wreath for stability, and settings to mimic soluble support (0 contact Z distance). It peels away from PLA very well. If you don't have multimaterial printing, you can still print with detachable supports.
 

Key:

Purple = thalamus

Brown = caudate

Green = putamen

Light blue = globus pallidus externus

Blue = global pallidus internus

Yellow = subthalamic nucleus

Black = substantia nigra

Red = red nucleus

Assembly:

The cerebral hemisphere will not be able to slide freely over the screws. The fit should be tight and will you will need to tighten the screws into their respective holes with a socket wrench. Start with the nut at the tip of the screw and use the recess in the base to help tighten until the head of the screw is flush with the bottom of the base. Once tightened, the fit will be secure.

The longest (58 mm) of the square-profile support beams is the anterior. The second longest (54 mm) square-profile support beam is the second most anterior. The remainder of the square-profile support beams are same length (45 mm). All of the rectangle-profile support beams are all the same length (45 mm). Assemble as depicted. The globus pallidus internus, globus pallidus externus, and putamen share the same support beams (from medial to lateral: GPi, GPe, putamen). Insert all of the support beams in their respective positions, then attach the nuclei in the following order: red nucleus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, thalamus, GPi, GPe, caudate, putamen. A drop of superglue to attach the nuclei to their support beam is recommended. It is not necessary to glue the support beam to the cerebral hemisphere (it should fit snugly and stay in place).

Additional materials

• Hex Head Screw 1/4"-20 Thread Size, 4.5" Long, Fully Threaded x 2: https://www.mcmaster.com/91309A560/
• Hex Nut, 1/4"-20 Thread Size x 2: https://www.mcmaster.com/90473A029/

Anatomy data derived/adapted from:

Allen Human Reference Atlas - 3D, 2020 - CC BY 4.0
Copyright notice: © 2019 Allen Institute for Brain Science
Dataset citation: Song‐Lin Ding, Joshua J. Royall, Susan M. Sunkin, Benjamin A.C. Facer, Phil Lesnar, Amy Bernard, Lydia Ng, Ed S. Lein (2020). “Allen Human Reference Atlas – 3D, 2020," RRID:SCR_017764, version 1.0.0.

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