Cerebellum

Question 1

What does the word ‘cerebellum’ mean?

Answer 1

Little brain.

Question 2

How many neurons does the cerebellum contain?

Answer 2

Approximately 50 billion neurons.

Question 3

What is the primary function of the cerebellum?

Answer 3

Influencing movement, balance, posture, and coordination.

Question 4

What test is used to assess cerebellar function?

Answer 4

The finger-to-nose test.

Question 5

What are the three cerebellar peduncles?

Answer 5

Superior, middle, and inferior peduncles.

Question 6

What is the vermis?

Answer 6

The central region joining the two hemispheres of the cerebellum.

Question 7

What are the three lobes of the cerebellum?

Answer 7

Anterior, posterior, and flocculonodular lobes.

Question 8

What is the ‘arbor vitae’?

Answer 8

The branching pattern of white matter in the cerebellum.

Question 9

What are the three layers of the cerebellar cortex?

Answer 9

Molecular, Purkinje, and granular layers.

Question 10

What is the function of Purkinje cells?

Answer 10

They project axons to the deep cerebellar nuclei, controlling output.

Question 11

What are parallel fibers?

Answer 11

Axons of granule cells that synapse with Purkinje cells.

Question 12

What are the deep cerebellar nuclei?

Answer 12

Dentate, emboliform, globose, and fastigial nuclei.

Question 13

What neurotransmitter do Purkinje cells use?

Answer 13

GABA.

Question 14

What are mossy fibers?

Answer 14

Afferent fibers that terminate in the granular layer of the cerebellar cortex.

Question 15

What are climbing fibers?

Answer 15

Afferent fibers that synapse directly with Purkinje cells.

Question 16

What is the role of the cerebellum in motor commands?

Answer 16

Processing and integrating motor information for smooth movements.

Question 17

What symptoms occur with damage to the flocculonodular lobe?

Answer 17

Disturbances in posture and balance.

Question 18

How does damage to the cerebellum affect movement?

Answer 18

Causes uncoordinated, jerky, and erratic movements.

Question 19

What is the effect of damage to the neocerebellum?

Answer 19

Disrupts timing of rapid movements and causes unsteady gait.

Question 20

What does bilateral damage to the neocerebellum cause?

Answer 20

Slow speech, dysarthria, and cerebellar ataxia.

Question 21

What symptom results from damage to the anterior lobe?

Answer 21

Limb rigidity and movement deficits.

Question 22

How does cerebellar damage affect eye movements?

Answer 22

Causes nystagmus (involuntary eye movement).

Question 23

What does ipsilateral damage to the cerebellum affect?

Answer 23

Movement on the same side of the body as the damage.

Question 24

What happens to movements when the cerebellum is damaged?

Answer 24

Movements become uncoordinated and poorly timed.

Question 25

What types of input does the cerebellum receive?

Answer 25

Sensory, somatosensory, and motor information.

Question 26

What structure connects the cerebellum to the brainstem?

Answer 26

Cerebellar peduncles.

Question 27

What is the effect of alcohol on the cerebellum?

Answer 27

It disrupts balance and coordination, impairing movement.

Question 28

What is cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 28

A staggering, unsteady gait caused by bilateral cerebellar damage.

Question 29

How is sensory information processed in the cerebellum?

Answer 29

Processed by Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei.

Question 30

What role does the cerebellum play in feedback for rapid movements?

Answer 30

It plans muscle activity in advance since feedback is too slow.