Cerebellar Function Flashcards
What are the Cerebellar pathways divided into
3 functional pathways:
- Vestibulocerebellum (flocculonodular lobe)
- Spinocerebellum (vermis and intermediate zones)
- Cerebrocerebellum (lateral hemispheres)
What does the vestibulocerebellum do
receives proprioceptive input from the vestibular system (via vestibulocochlear nerve to vestibular nuclei)
Information goes to Cerebellum via the Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle to the flocculonodular lobes
Head movements (vestibular reflexes) and posture and balance are done via vestibulospinal tract
Where does vestibulospinal tract originate
Pontine vestibular nuclei
What does the Medial vestibulospinal tract synapse with
synapses in cervical spinal cord with muscles that maintain head position
What does the lateral vestibulospinal tract synapse with
In many levels of the spinal cord with muscles that help amaintain balance and posture (leg extensor and arm flexor)
How does the cortex communicate with the cerebellum (Cerebrocerebellum pathway)
Cortex inputs to the Pontine Nuclei
Then to the Lateral aspect of the Cerebellum via the Middle cerebellar peduncle
From Lateral aspect of cerebellum to Dentate nucleus
From the Dentate nucleus to the Red nucleus via the Superior cerebellar peduncle
From the red nucleus back to the Thalamus then to the Cortex.
red nucleus also communicates with Rubrospinal tract
What does cerebrocerebellum do
Participates in the planning and timing of movement and force
Where does the Rubrospinal tract originate
Red nucleus of midbrain
What does the Rubrospinal tract descend laterally with and what does it synapse with
Descends laterally with the corticospinal tract
Synapse in the cervical levels of the spinal cord
Role of Rubrospinal tract
Upper limb position and flexion adjustment
What does the spinocerebellum do
Receives sensory input from the spinocerebellar tracts, projects motor adaptation signals to cerebellar nuclei to eventually coordinate limb movement and gait
What does the Reticulospinal tract originate
IN pontine and medullary reticular formation
Where does the Medial (pontine) reticulospinal tract synapse with
Throughout the spinal cord with muscles
Where does the Lateral (medullary) reticule-spinal tract synapse with
Throughout the spinal cord with muscles
What is the role of the Reticulospinal tract
Assists in controlling trunk and upper and lower limb muscles (walking and posture)
