Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia

Question 1

Where is the cerebellum located?

Answer 1

Below the tentorium cerebelli in the posterior cranial fossa

Question 2

The cerebellum is mainly responsible for what?

Answer 2

Controlling balance and posture

Question 3

What are the names of the three cerebellar peduncles? They attach it to where?

Answer 3

Superior, middle and inferior / The brainstem, particularly the pons

Question 4

Which cerebellar peduncle is the largest?

Answer 4

Middle

Question 5

The lobes of the cerebellum are defined by what?

Answer 5

The primary fissure

Question 6

What are the lobes of the cerebellum?

Answer 6

Anterior, posterior and flocculonodular

Question 7

What is the a) largest and b) smallest lobe of the cerebellum?

Answer 7

a) posterior b) flocculonodular

Question 8

Describe the white/grey matter layout of the cerebellum?

Answer 8

Grey matter outing with a white matter core and some deep grey matter containing the cerebellar nuclei

Question 9

The cerebellum is separated into two hemispheres along its midline by a structure known as what?

Answer 9

The vermis

Question 10

The cerebellar cortex is divided into what 3 layers - outer to inner?

Answer 10

Molecular layer, Purkinje cell layer, granule cell layer

Question 11

Which layer of the cerebellar cortex contains a) not many neurones? b) vast numbers of very small neurones?

Answer 11

a) molecular layer b) granule cell layer

Question 12

What is significant about the Purkinje cell later of the cerebellum?

Answer 12

These are the output cells of the cerebellum

Question 13

Afferent projections to the cerebellum enter via where? and project mainly into where?

Answer 13

Cerebellar peduncles / granule cell layer

Question 14

Afferent projections to the cerebellum arrive mainly from where?

Answer 14

Spinal cord, cortex and vestibular apparatus

Question 15

Afferent projections to the cerebellum from the spinal cord are more specifically from where?

Answer 15

Somatic proprioceptors and pressure receptors

Question 16

Afferent projections to the cerebellum from the cortex are relayed via where?

Answer 16

The pons

Question 17

Efferent projections from the cerebellum leave where? And synapse where?

Answer 17

Axons of the Purkinje cells / neurones of the deep cerebellar nuclei

Question 18

What is the function of efferent projections from the cerebellum?

Answer 18

To coordinate the function of all the motor tracts of the brainstem and spinal cord

Question 19

Cerebellar hemispheres influence which side of the body?

Answer 19

Ipsilateral

Question 20

What clinical picture will a midline cerebellar lesion cause? What structure is affected to cause this?

Answer 20

Disturbance of postural control / vermis

Question 21

A unilateral cerebellar hemispheric lesion will result in what? This can cause what symptoms?

Answer 21

Disturbance of co-ordination in the limbs / intention tremor or unsteady gait

Question 22

Bilateral cerebellar dysfunction will cause what?

Answer 22

Slowed, slurred speech (dysarthria), bilateral in-coordination of the arms and a staggering, wide based gait

Question 23

A floccular lesion in the cerebellum will cause what?

Answer 23

Vestibular disturbance

Question 24

What is the basal ganglia? Where is it found?

Answer 24

A number of masses of grey matter near the base of each cerebral hemisphere

Question 25

Which components of the basal ganglia form the striatum?

Answer 25

Caudate nucleus and putamen

Question 26

Which components of the basal ganglia form the corpus striatum?

Answer 26

Caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus

Question 27

Which components of the basal ganglia form the lenticular nucleus?

Answer 27

Putamen and globus pallidus

Question 28

What are the 5 components of the basal ganglia?

Answer 28

Caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra

Question 29

The caudate nucleus and putamen are separated by what structure?

Answer 29

Internal capsule

Question 30

What are the functions of the basal ganglia?

Answer 30

To facilitate purposeful movement and inhibit purposeless movement and has a role in posture and muscle tone

Question 31

What does the basal ganglia do to facilitate and enhance normal movement?

Answer 31

Enhance outflow of the thalamus

Question 32

What does the basal ganglia do to suppress unwanted movement?

Answer 32

Inhibit outflow of the thalamus

Question 33

Unilateral lesions of the basal ganglia affect which side of the body?

Answer 33

Contralateral

Question 34

What are some features that lesions of the basal ganglia generally do not cause?

Answer 34

Paralysis, sensory loss, loss of power or ataxia

Question 35

Lesions of the basal ganglia mostly cause which motor signs?

Answer 35

Changes in muscle tone and dyskinesias e.g. tremor, chorea, myoclonus

Question 36

What is the pathology of Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 36

Degeneration of dopaminergic neurones in the substantia nigra

Question 37

Where is the substantia nigra located?

Answer 37

In the midbrain

Question 38

What is Huntington’s disease?

Answer 38

Progressive degeneration of the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex causing chorea and progressive dementia