Cerebellum Flashcards
What are the main functions of the cerebellum?
Motor functions (coordination, precision and timing of movement) as well as motor memory, language, higher level processing and some personality aspects
What embryonic division is the cerebellum part of?
Metencephalon (which is a subdivision of the rhombencephalon/ hindbrain)
Where is the cerebellum found?
Posterior cranial fossa
Inferior to occipital and temporal lobes
Separated from the pons by the fourth ventricle
What is the anatomical structure of the cerebellum?
Two hemispheres connected by the vermis
Divided into grey matter (forms the cerebellar cortex) and white matter (containing four nuclei)
Three lobes - anterior, posterior and flocculonodular - separated by two fissures - primary and posterolateral
What are the three functional zones of the cerebellum?
Cerebrocerebellum (planning movements and motor learning)
Spinocerebellum (regulation of body movements and input of proprioceptive information)
Vestibulocerebellum (control of balance and ocular reflexes)
What is the blood supply to the cerebellum?
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)
Superior cerebellar artery
What is the venous drainage of the cerebellar?
Superior and inferior cerebellar veins - drain into the superior petrosal, transverse and straight dural venous sinuses
What can cause cerebellar dysfunction?
Stroke
Trauma
Tumours
Chronic excess alcohol use
What symptoms can be caused by damage to the cerebellum?
Dysdiadochokinesia Ataxia Nystagmus Intention tremor Scanning speech Hypotonia
What tests can be done to assess cerebellum function?
Finger to nose
Heel to shin
Hand flip
Will motor cerebellum symptoms normally present as ipsilateral or contralateral?
Ipsilateral
What is the tentorium cerebelli?
Dural fold protecting the cerebellum from being squashed by the rest of the brain and to prevent movement
What part of the cerebellum is commonly damaged by chronic alcoholism or a medulloblastoma?
Anterior lobe
What signs or symptoms would you expect to see from a midline cerebellum lesion (e.g. vermis?
Truncal Ataxia
Dysarthria (difficult or unclear articulation of speech)
What signs and symptoms would you expect to see from a lesion to the cerebellar hemispheres (lateral cerebellar structures)?
Dysdiadochokinesia
Intention tremor
Loss of balance
Dysmetria ("overreach" caused by inability to judge distances)
Rebound phenomena
