FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY - Cerebellum Flashcards
What is the function of the cerebellum?
The cerebellum acts as a regulator to smooth and coordinate motor function for posture and movement through modulating the activity of upper motor neurones (UMNs)
What is the name used to describe the white matter of the cerebellum?
Abor vitae
Which structure connects the two hemispheres of the cerebellum?
Vermis
What is the name of the most ventral portion of the vermis?
Nodulus
What is the name of the most ventral portion of the hemispheres?
Flocculus
What is the collective name for the nodulus and flocculus?
Flocculonodular lobe
What are the three functional divisions of the cerebellum?
Cerebrocerebellum
Spinocerebellum
Vestibulocerebellum
Which anatomical region of the cerebellum makes up the cerebrocerebellum?
Cerebellar hemispheres
Which anatomical region of the cerebellum makes up the spinocerebellum?
Vermis and paravermis
Which anatomical region of the cerebellum makes up the vestibulocerebellum?
Flocculonodular lobe
Which three afferent tracts provide proprioceptive information to the cerebellum?
Spinocerebellar tract
Vestibulocerebellar tract
Tectocerebellar tract
Which two afferent tracts provide information relevant to movement planning and execution to the cerebellum?
Corticopontocerebellar tract
Olivocerebellar tract
Which two fibres input information into the cerebellar cortex?
Mossy fibres
Climbing fibres
What are the three histological layers of the grey matter in the cerebellar cortex?
Molecular cell layer
Purkinje cell layer
Granule cell layer
What is the difference between mossy fibres and climbing fibres?
Mossy fibres synapse with granule cells which synapse with the purkinje cells, whereas climbing fibres originate from the olivary nucleus in the brainstem and synapse directly with the purkinje cells
Where do most of the purkinje cell axons synapse?
Deep cerebellar nuclei
Are purkinje cells axons inhibitory or excitatory?
Purkinje cell axons are inhibitory
What are deep cerebellar nuclei?
Clusters of neuronal cell bodies located in the white matter of the cerebellum
What are the three main deep cerebellar nuclei?
Fastigial nucleus
Interposital nucleus
Dentate nucleus
Are the efferent projections from the deep cerebellar nuclei inhibitory or excitatory?
The efferent projections from the deep cerebellar nuclei are excitatory and project to the pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems
Where do purkinje cell axons synapse if they are processing information from the vestibulocerebellum?
Vestibular nuclei in the brainstem
What are cerebellar peduncles?
White matter structures attaching the cerebellum to the brain stem which contain afferent and efferent fibres which transport information in and out of the cerebellum
What are the three cerebellar peduncles?
Rostral cerebellar peduncle
Middle cerebellar peduncle
Caudal cerebellar peduncle
Which afferent tracts enter the cerebrocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncles?
Corticopontocerebellar tract via the middle peduncle and olivocerebellar tract via the caudal peduncle
Which structure receives information from cerebrocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncle?
Thalamus via the rostral peduncle
The thalamus will then integrate this information and send projections to the motor cortex to project information via the pyramidal system (corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts)
Which afferent tracts enter the spinocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncles?
Ventral spinocerebellar tract fibres via the rostral peduncle and dorsal spinocerebellar tract fibres from the caudal peduncle
Which structures receive information from spinocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncle?
The reticuar formation via the caudal peduncle and red nucleus in the midbrain via the rostral peduncle
The reticular formation then projects information down the spinal cord via the reticulospinal tract which coordinates movement and posture, and the red nuclues projects information does the spinal cord via the rubrospinal tract to control speed within movement
Which afferent tracts enter the vestibulocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncles?
Vestibulocerebellar tract via the caudal cerebellar peduncle
Which structures receive information from vestibulocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncle?
Vestibular nuclei via the caudal peduncle
The vestibular nuclei then project information down the spinal cord via the vestibulospinal tracts to control balance and posture
Which key clinical signs are indicative of damage to the cerebrocerebellum?
Dysmetria
Intention tremors
Which key clinical sign is indicative of damage to the vestibulocerebellum?
Paradoxical vestibular disease
Which key clinical signs are indicative of damage to the spinocerebellum?
Hypermetria
Spasticity
What are five clinical signs of cerebellar dysfunction?
Cerebellar ataxia
Nystagmus
Intention tremors
Ipsilateral head tilt
Hypermetria
