Cerebellum Flashcards
tentorium cerebelli
connects cerebellum to cerebrum
falx cerebelli
connects hemispheres of the cerebellum
primary fissure
divides the cerebellum into rostral and caudal lobes
vermis
entire midline of the cerebellum
nodulus
most caudal and ventral part of the cerebellum
flocculus
white matter tracts of the flocculonodular lobe located laterally to the nodulus
flocculonodular lobe
vestibular component of the cerebellum
caudolateral fissure
divides the caudal lobe of the cerebellum from the flocculonodular lobe
folia
ridges; equivalent to gyri of the cerebrum
arbor vitae
white matter branches throughout the cerebellum
cerebellar peduncles
attach the cerebellum to the brainstem
- middle (most lateral)
- caudal (middle)
- rostral (medial)
deep cerebellar nuclei
3 pairs of nuclei located within the white matter (deep medulla)
- denate
- interposital
- fastigial
layers of the cerebellar cortex
- molecular layer
- Purkinje cell layer
- granule cell layer
main neuron type of the cerebellum
Purkinje - overall INHIBITORY
molecular layer
outermost layer; contains fibers (axons/dendrites) from granule and Purkinje cell layers
purkinje cell layer
middle layer; single layer of Purkinje neurons
granule cell layer
innermost layer; multiple layers of smaller neurons that send processes into the molecular layer and split into 2 longitudinal strands that synapse with dendrites of Purkinje cells
metencephalon
pons + cerebellum
germinal cells
give rise to the cells of the cerebellum
mantel cells
germinal cells that differentiate into Purkinje and deep cerebellar nuclei neurons
- do NOT divide
external germinal layer cells
germinal cells that:
1. migrate to the cerebellar surface to form the external germinal layer
2. divide until 10-12 cell layers thick
3. stop dividing and migrate back into cerebellum
4. differentiate into granule neurons in the granular layer
pyramidal tracts
axon tracts from the cerebrum that directly innervate motor neurons (CNs or spinal)
extra-pyramidal tracts
all axon tracts that do not innervate motor neurons of cranial/spinal nerves
- reticular formation
- pons
- medulla
function of the cerebellum
coordinates movement and posture
- “fine tunes” movement
- determines rate/range/force of movement
- assists with equilibrium and balance
does NOT initiate movement