9/14 Cerebellum - Rasin Flashcards
cerebellum: volume and % neurons
10% of brain volume
50% of all neurons
largest part of hindbrain (aka “little brain”), located in posterior fossa
- tentorium cerebelli on top
cerebellar tonsillar herniation
through foramen magnum → leads to compression of medulla (resp, cardiovasc, vagus dorsal motor nucleus of X, nucleus solitarius, etc)
can be due to…
- high ICP
- Chiari I malformation
major components of cerebellum
cerebellar cortex
- cerebrocerebellum
- spinocerebellum
- vestibulocerebellum
deep cerebellar nuclei
- dentate nucleus
- interposed nuclei (comprised of 2 nuclei)
- fastigial nucleus
cerebellar peduncles
- superior peduncle
- middle peduncle
- inferior peduncle
organization of cerebellum
2 cerebellar hemispheres joined by narrow median vermis
divided into 3 lobes:
- anterior
- posterior
- flocculonodular
in addition,
- vermis+intermediate hemispheres = spinocerebellum
- lateral hemispheres = cerebrocerebellum
functional subdivisions of cerebellum
spinocerebellum
- intermedial hemi: gross limb movements
-
vermis: eye movements, prox muscles
- note somatotopic org! lateral is distal, medial is more prox
cerebrocerebellum
- planning, execution of skilled and complex spatio-temporal sequences (incl speech)
vestibulocerebellum (flocculonodular lobe)
- posture, equilibrium
functional organization of output from cerebellum
how does cerebellum stay ipsilateral???
info must end up on appropriate side!
cerebellar cortex → deep cerebellar nuclei → decussates, sends info to…
- red nucleus (midbrain) [→ VL_thalamus]
- VL complex (thalamus)
→→→ primary motor and premotor cortex!
cerebellum innervates ipsilateral movements because it decussates to sends info to the CONTRALATERAL primary motor/premotor cortex!!!
- cortex → CST, which will re-decussate on way down to LMNs!
deep cerebellar nuclei
which cerebellar outputs go to which nuclei?
from lateral to medial: don’t eat greasy food
- dentate nucleus
- emboliform nucleus [one of interposed nuclei]
- globosus nucleus [one of interposed nuclei]
- fastigial nucleus
output → nucleus:
- output of lateral hemi → dentate nucleus
- output of intermediate hemi → interposed nuclei
- output of vermis → fastigial nucleus
- output of flocculonodular lobe → vestibular nuclei
cerebellar peduncles
associated with 3 parts of brainstem:
- superior cerebellar peduncles → midbrain
- middle cerebellar peduncles → pons
- inferior cerebellar peduncles → medulla
*can see through tractography
output from dentate nuclues
where is info going? through what tracts
info from dentate nucleus (lateral hemis) carried in superior cerebellar peduncles → decussates at decussation of superior cerebellar peduncles on way to:
- red nucleus (parvocellular red nucleus)
- parvocellular red nucleus sends projection back down through central tegmental tract to ipsi inferior olivary nucleus → projection decussates and forms olivocerebellar fibers
- completely diff from rubrospinal tract!
- VL nucleus of thalamus
- → projection to motor cortex, association cortex
- communication to region where movement is initiated
inferior olivary nucleus
receives inputs from spinal cord, red nucleus, cortex
- projects to entire cerebellum through contralateral ICP (inf cerebellar peduncle)
source of climbing fibers
imp for motor learning
GuillanMollaret triangle
dentate nucleus (contralat) → red nucleus (parvocellular red nucleus) → inf olivary nucleus → dentate nucleus (contralat)
intermediate output
where is info going/ through what tracts
info from interposed nuclei (emboliform & globosus nuclei) carried in superior cerebellar peduncles → decussates at decussation of superior cerebellar peduncles on way to:
1. red nucleus (magnocellular red nucleus)
- magnocellular red nucleus sends projection back down through ventral tegmental decussation in the rubrospinal tract
- rubrospinal tract: movement of contralat extremities
2. VL nucleus of thalamus
→ projection to motor cortex, association cortex
- communication to region where movement is initiated
what are the inputs to the cerebellum?
middle cerebellar peduncle
main inputs are from cortex
- frontal cortex
- parietal cortex
cortex → corticopontine fibers travelling through internal capsule and cerebral peduncles, ending on pontine nuclei
- pontine nuclei → pontocerebellar fibers decussate via middle cerebellar peduncle on way to lateral cerebellar cortex/deep nuclei
*** middle cerebellar peduncle is comprised entirely of INPUTS TO CEREBELLUM from contralat pontine nuclei ***
another large input: inferior cerebellar peduncles
what are the inputs to the cerebellum?
inferior cerebellar peduncle
ICP aka “restiform body” contains inputs and outputs from medulla and spinal cord
contains:
1. dorsal spinocerebellar tract: leg proprioceptors in nucleus dorsalis of Clark → ICP to cerebellum
- travels ipsilaterally
- ventral spinocerebellar tract decussates to contralat side within spinal cord, travels/ascends contralaterally → uses superior cerebellar peduncles to cross BACK to ipsilat side
2. cuneocerebellar tract: arm proprioceptors in external cuneate nucleus → ICP to cerebellum
- travels ipsilaterally
lets you know where your limbs are! so you know if your plan was executed correctly and/or plan for next movement
3. climbing fibers from inferior olivary nucleus
cerebellum has no direct connections to any LMNs!
how does it influence LMN action?
either hits:
- red nucleus → rubrospinal tract
- VP_thalamus → cortex → lateral and medial motor pathways
- vestibular nuclei → LMN in spinal cord and brainstem (balance, vestibulo-ocular reg)