Cerebellum

Question 1

Functions of the cerebellum

Answer 1

Essential for production of co-ordinated movements

Co-ordinates time, force and duration of muscle action - synergy

Involvement in maintaining balance and posture

Stores instructions for patterns of movement

May have linguistic and cognitive functions

Question 2

Functional subdivisions of cerebellum

Answer 2

Archi/vestibulocerebellum
Paleo/spinocerebellum
Neo/cerebrocerebellum

Question 3

Archi/vestibulocerebellum location

Answer 3

Most medial and primitive

Comprises of flocculonodular lobe and part of vermis

Question 4

Paleo/spinocerebellum location

Answer 4

Adjacent to archi

Comprises most of vermis and adjacent region of hemispheres

Question 5

Neo/cerebrocerebellum location

Answer 5

Comprises lateral parts of hemispheres

Question 6

Vestibulocerebellum function

Answer 6

Co-ordinates muscles involved in maintaining balance and constancy of visual fields

Receives input from vestibular apparatus of inner ear

(can look at something whilst moving)

Question 7

Spinocerebellum function

Answer 7

Co-ordinates muscles involved in posture and locomotion

Question 8

Cerebocerebellum function

Answer 8

Co-ordinates movements of distal limbs, particularly fine, motor movements of hands

Question 9

Look at vestibular pathway

Answer 9

and learn it!

Question 10

Is the influence of the cerebellum ipsi/contralaterally?

Answer 10

Ipsilaterally

Question 11

Spinocerebellar connections

Answer 11

Proprioception and other sensory information from spinal cord passes into the cerebellum via the ICP - so the cerebellum knows what muscles are doing

Question 12

Cerebrocerebellar pathway learn it

Answer 12

now

Question 13

Truncal ataxia

Answer 13

Inability to stand or sit without falling over

Midline lesion affecting vestibulocerebellum

Most commonly due to medulloblastoma

Question 14

Gait ataxia

Answer 14

Lower limbs most affected, producing staggering, wide-based gait

Lesion of spinocerebellum

Most common in chronic alcoholics due to degen of cerebellar neurons in paravermal areas

Question 15

Lesion of cerebellar hemisphere

Answer 15

Inco-ordination of voluntary movement, mainly in upper limb

Many causes: vascular, degenerative, trauma

Question 16

Lesion of cerebellar hemisphere - presentation

Answer 16

Tremor of intent
Past pointing or dysmetria
Adiadochokinesia
Dysarthria
Nystagmus