Cerebellum Flashcards

1
Q

What is the cerebellum important for?

A

Balance
Coordination
Refinement of movement

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2
Q

How does the cerebellum compare intended and actual movement?

A

Compares input from motor planning centres with vestibular and proprioceptive organs

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3
Q

If the cerebellum detects that actual movement was not the same as intended, what does it do?

A

Send corrective signals to motor planning centre

Via thalamus and directly to UMN nuclei

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4
Q

The cerebellum is good at refining simple movements. What do more complex movements require? Why?

A

Practice

To improve synapse efficiency

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5
Q

What may an animal with a damaged cerebellum look like?

A

Uncoordinated

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6
Q

Where is the cerebellum located? In relation to hemispheres, pons and medulla oblongata

A

Caudal to cerebral hemispheres

Dorsal to pons and medulla oblongata

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7
Q

What makes up the cerebellum?

A

Highly folded cortex of deep nuclei and grey matter

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8
Q

White matter in the cerebellum forms branching tracts. What are these called?

A

Arbor vitae (tree of life)

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9
Q

What do the arbor vitae consist of? Where do they synapse?

A

Purkinje cell axons

Synapse on deep cerebellar nuclei of grey matter

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10
Q

The cortex of the cerebellum is folded. What are these folds called?

A

Folia

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11
Q

What are the 3 lobes of the cerebellum called?

A

Rostral
Caudal
Flocculonodular

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12
Q

From a dorsal perspective, what is the cerebellum separated into?

A

2 hemispheres

Vermis in between hemispheres

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13
Q

What are the cerebellar peduncles? How many are there?

A

Stalks of white matter
Allow cerebellum to communicate with brain stem
3 on each side = 6

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14
Q

What are the names of the 3 pairs of the peduncles?

A

Caudal
Middle
Rostral peduncles

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15
Q

What fibres are in each pair of peduncles?

A
Caudal = afferent
Middle = afferent
Rostral = efferent
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16
Q

What are the 2 main sets of afferent axons in the cerebellum? (Fibres)

A

Mossy fibres

Climbing fibres

17
Q

Where do mossy fibres get their input?

A

Motor cortex

Via nuclei in pons

18
Q

Where do climbing fibres get their input?

A

Vestibular organs and proprioceptors

19
Q

Are mossy fibres and climbing fibres excitatory or inhibitory?

A

Excitatory

20
Q

Deep nuclei have excitatory output to the UMN tracts. What does this mean damage to the cerebellar cortex causes?

A

Excess motoractivity

21
Q

What are the 3 sections of functional anatomy in the cerebellum?

A

Vestibulocerebellum
Spinocerebellum
Cerebrocerebellum

22
Q

Where is the vestibularcerebellum? What movements is it responsible for?

A

Flocculonodular lobe
Balance and eye
(Vestibular nuclei)

23
Q

What is the function of the spinocerebellum?

A

Muscle tone and movement

24
Q

Where is the cerebrocerebellum? What does it do?

A

Lateral part of cerebellar hemispheres

Planning of movements

25
Q

Animals with complex limb movements have what adaptations to their cerebellum?

A

Large cerebellar hemispheres

26
Q

Animals with symmetrical limb movements have what adaptations to their cerebellum?

A

Well developed vermis

27
Q

Animals with a large tail have what adaptation tot heir cerebellum?

A

Large lingula

28
Q

Where is the lingula?

A

Lobule at rostral end of cerebellum

29
Q

Do altricial or precocial animals have a better developed cerebellum at birth? Why?

A

Precocial - need to be able to run with the herd

30
Q

Why do altricial not have a well developed cerebellum? What is important to aid their cerebellar development?

A

In safe den for first few weeks of life

Playing improves synapse efficiency

31
Q

What does cerebral dysfunction cause and why?

A

Ataxia = uncoordinated gait and balance

Due to motor adjustment not being made

32
Q

Cerebral dysfunction can also cause wide based gaits (for balance) and dysmteria. What is dysmetria?

A

Hypo/hypermetria = over/undershooting when moving

33
Q

What may be seen if the vestibulocerebellum is affected?

A

Swaying

34
Q

What happens when there is damage to the cerebellar cortex?

A

Decreased inhibition of deep nuclei

Causes increased tone (spasticity) and hypermetria

35
Q

What is an intention tremor?

A

Tremor when concentrating on deliberate movements e.g. reaching for food
Seen with cerebellar damage

36
Q

Why do cats have larger cerebellar hemispheres than fish?

A

Cats have proper limbs - need more motor planning

37
Q

What is the main function of the flocculonodular lobe?

A

Vestibular system

Vestibulocerebellum

38
Q

What is car sickness caused by?

A

Vestibular and visual system mismatch

39
Q

What signs might you expect in an animal with a lesion on the spinocerebellum cortex?

A

Exaggerated movement
Increased muscle tone
Hypermetria gait
Ataxia