Cerebellum Flashcards
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Important motor part of the brain:
- Production of coordinated movement (speed, direction)
- Maintain equilibrium, balance and posture
- Co-ordinates appropriate time, force and duration of muscle contraction (synergy: two or more actions come together to produce an effect e.g. information from the primary motor cortex and information from the limbs)
- May store instruction for patterns of movement
- May have linguistic and cognitive functions
Does the cerebellum act ipsilaterally or contralaterally?
Cerebellum acts ipsilaterally: receives information from the same side and acts for the same side.
Which 2ary vesicle does the cerebellum develop from?
metencephalon
Where is the cerebellum located? In which cranial fossa?
- Found under the occipital lobes of the cerebral hemispheres
- In the posterior cranial fossa
How is the cerebellum separated from the occipital lobes?
By the tentorium cerebelli (tough layer of dura mater)
How is the cerebellum attached to the brainstem?
By 3 paired cerebellar peduncles

Which part of the brainstem does the cerebellum lie posterior to?
It lies at the same level of and posterior to the pons

How is the cerebellum separated from the pons?
By the 4th ventricle
The cerebellum consists of two hemispheres. What are these connected by?
Vermis; a narrow midline area

How many anatomical lobes does the cerebellum have?
3; the anterior lobe, the posterior lobe and the flocculonodular lobe.

How are the lobes of the cerebellum separated?
These lobes are divided by two fissures – the primary fissure and posterolateral fissure.

The cerebellum also has tonsils (2 small areas at the bottom). What can happen in situations of increased
Tonsils can herniate through the foramen magnum and compress the medulla.

The cerebellum can also be divided by function. How many functional areas are there? What are they?
There are three functional areas of the cerebellum:
- Cerebrocerebellum
- Spinocerebellum
- Vestibulocerebellum

What forms the vestibulocerebellum (archicerebellum)?
- Comprised of the flocculonodular lobe and part of the vermis
- Seen here in blue

What is the spinocerebellum also referred to as?
paleocerebellum
What is the vestibulocerebellum also referred to as?
archicerebellum
What is the cerebrocerebellum also referred to as?
neocerebellum
What comprises the spinocerebellum?
Comprises most of the vermis and adjacent region of hemispheres (seen here in purple)

What comprises the cerebrocerebellum?
- Comprises lateral parts of the hemispheres
- Seen here in green

The cerebellum is somatotopically organised. What does this mean?
Cerebellar homunculus: homunculus matches up to the function of specific subdivisions

Function of the vestibulocerebellum?
- Has a role in the vestibular system of the Inner ear, controlling balance
- Coordinates muscles involved in maintaining balance and constancy of visual fields
- Receives input from the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear

Function of the spinocerebellum?
- Receives connections from the spinal cord
- Co-ordinates muscles involved in posture and locomotion

Function of cerebrocerebellum?
- Receives input from the cerebrum/cortex
- Co-ordinates movements of distal limbs. Particularly fine, skilled and targeted movements of hands (also involved in learning, linguistic and cognitive functions

Which functional division of the cerebellum is only seen in higher functioning animals?
Cerebrocerebellum; region developed later on in evolution




















