Cerebellum Flashcards
What are the functions of the cerbellum?
it ensures smooth and coordinated goal directed movement, helps maintain posture, and helps maintain balance
What does the cerebellum work with to ensure smooth and coordinated goal directed movement?
the cortex
What does the cerebellum work with to help maintain posture?
reticular formation
What does the cerebellum work with to help maintain balance?
vestibular system
What is the nodulus?
a part of the vermis that is connected to the flocculus via the flocculonodular peduncle
What is the function of the nodulus?
it works to modify the vestibular nuclei
What do all cerebellar inputs and outputs go through?
the peduncles
What does the cerebellum receive input from?
cerebral cortex, brainstem motor centers, and proprioceptors
What proprioceptors does the cerebellum receive information from?
spinocuneocerebellar tract, dorsal spinocerebellar tract, and ventral spinocerebellar trect
What are the inputs from the cerebellum processed in?
the cerebellar cortex
Which peduncle do cerebellar outputs go through?
the rostral peduncle
What does most of the output from the cerebellum come from?
three cerebellar nuclei (on each side of the cerebellum)
Is the output from the cerebellar nuclei excitatory or inhibitory?
excitatory
Aside from the cerebellar nuclei, where does cerebellar output come from?
direct output from the cortex of the flocculonodular lobe to the vestibular nuclei
What do purkinje cells in the cerebellum do?
they inhibit the cerebellar nuclei; the more activity the more inhibition
What are the cerebellar modules and what part of the cerebellum are they associated with?
pontocerebellar - cerebellar hemisphere
spinocerebellar - vermis
vestibulocerebellar - nodulus, flocculonodular peduncle, and flocculus
What is the cerebellums effect on the vestibular nuclei?
it is inhibitory
What is an examble of a unilateral cerebellar lesion that causes cerebellar and vestibular signs?
paradoxical vestibular syndrome
What happens when there is something wrong with the pontocerebellar module?
lack of coordination of flexor and extensor muscles, ataxia, and hypermetria
What is ataxia?
uncoordinated movement
What is hypermetria?
when movements are too big
What occurs when there is something wrong with the spinocerebellar module?
impaired control of postural maintenance (wide stance) and impaired control of timing and force of limb muscle contraction (dysmetria and intention tremor)
What is cerebellar hypoplasia?
underdevelopment of the cerebellum
What can cause cerebellar hypoplasia?
viral infection during in utero development such as canine herpes virus, feline panleukopenia virus, and bovine viral diarrhea
