Cerebellum Flashcards
What is the role of the cerebellum?
Receives information about motor planning/intention and motor performance to modify ongoing movements and central motor plans.
Co-ordination, calibration, learning and automating of skilled movements
Three cerebellum parts?
Vestibulocerebellum
Spinocerebellum
Ponto-/Neo-/Cerebro-cerebellum
Role of vestibulocerebellum
Orientation of head and body (balance/posture) and corresponding eye movements
Role of spinocerebellum
Control of axial and limb musculature (motor execution)
Role of cerebrocerebellum
Planning and timing precise movements (motor planning) and cognitive regulation.
Does the cerebellum work contralaterally or ipsilaterally?
Ipsilaterally (right sided cerebellum controls right hand sided movements)
What is the midline structure of the cerebellum?
Vermis
Where does the spinocerebellum lie anatomically?
In the centre, vermis and paravermal area
Where does the cerebrocerebellum lie anatomically?
Lateral to the spinocerebellum
Where does the vestibulocerebellum lie anatomically?
Inferior facing the pons
What does the vestibulocerebellum consist of?
Central nodulus, lateral flocculus
What are the deep cerebellar nuclei?
Fastigial, Interposed, Dentate
Where does the fastigial nuclei lie?
Most medially in the vermis
Where does the interposed nuclei lie?
Paravermis
Where does the dentate nuclei lie?
Lateral cerebrocerebellum
Where do the cerebellar inputs and outputs collectively lie?
In three cerebellar peduncles: superior, middle and inferior
What is the superior peduncle role and where does it send/receive?
Efferents (to thalamus and midbrain) OUTPUT
What is the middle peduncle role and where does it send/receive?
Afferents from pons (~20 million axons) INPUT
What is the inferior peduncle role and where does it send/receive?
Afferents from vestibular nuclei, spine, and inferior olive INPUT
Where do vestibulocerebellum inputs enter?
Inputs to flocculonodular lobe
What inputs to the vestibulocerebellum?
Direct input from primary sensory afferents (e.g. from semicircular canals) (the only sensory system that inputs directly to cerebellum without a relay in brain stem)
Input from vestibular nuclei (secondary afferents)
Inferior olive
What is the only sensory system that inputs directly to the cerebellum without a brainstem relay?
Semi circular canals
Where do outputs of vestibulocerebellum exit?
Projects back to the vestibular nuclei.
Where do outputs via fastigial nucleus go?
Efferents travel via the inferior cerebellar peduncle to the vestibular nuclei.
Fastigial nucleus to v/m brainstem descending systems (vestibulo-, reticulo-, and cortico-spinal tracts via thalamocortical relay)
Where do outputs via interposed nucleus go?
Interposed nuclei to d/l brainstem descending systems (rubro- and cortico-spinal tracts)
Lesions of vestibulo-cerebellum
Poor balance, nystagmus (eye drift and jump)
What are spinocerebellum inputs ?
Sensory and motor cortex (instruction)
Spinocerebellar tracts: Neck and trunk, Limbs
Inferior olivary nuclei
Where do outputs of spinocerebellum exit?
Vermis via fastigial nuclei, paravermis via interposed nuclei
Lesions of medial zone spinocerebellum?
Problems standing or walking
Lesions of intermediate zone spinocerebellum?
Poor accuracy, action tremor (3-5 Hz)
Cerebrocerebellum inputs?
Inputs From cortex via pons (80% of all corticofugal fibres are corticopontine)
Where do cerebrocerebellum outputs exit?
Cerebellar dentate nucleus
Where does cerebellar dentate gyrus exit?
Via VL thalamus to motor cortical areas, prefrontal cortex
Lesions of lateral hemispheres cerebrocerebellum?
Disrupts multi-joint movements e.g. reaching and grasping objects
How many neurons does the cerebellar outer cortex contain?
100 thousand million neurons (half of all brain neurons)
What are the principle input cells of the cerebellum?
Mossy fibre inputs
What do mossy fibres synapse onto?
Granule cells
What synapse is mossy fibre onto granule cell?
Excitatory glutaminergic
What do granule cells project to?
Principle cells in the outer cortical layer: Purkinje neurons
What synapse is granule cell to purkinje cell?
Excitatory glutaminergic