FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY - Cerebellum

Question 1

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 1

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)

Question 2

What is the name used to describe the white matter of the cerebellum?

Answer 2

Abor vitae

Question 3

Which structure connects the two hemispheres of the cerebellum?

Answer 3

Vermis

Question 4

What is the name of the most ventral portion of the vermis?

Answer 4

Nodulus

Question 5

What is the name of the most ventral portion of the hemispheres?

Answer 5

Flocculus

Question 6

What is the collective name for the nodulus and flocculus?

Answer 6

Flocculonodular lobe

Question 7

What are the three functional divisions of the cerebellum?

Answer 7

Cerebrocerebellum
Spinocerebellum
Vestibulocerebellum

Question 8

Which anatomical region of the cerebellum makes up the cerebrocerebellum?

Answer 8

Cerebellar hemispheres

Question 9

Which anatomical region of the cerebellum makes up the spinocerebellum?

Answer 9

Vermis and paravermis

Question 10

Which anatomical region of the cerebellum makes up the vestibulocerebellum?

Answer 10

Flocculonodular lobe

Question 11

Which three afferent tracts provide proprioceptive information to the cerebellum?

Answer 11

Spinocerebellar tract
Vestibulocerebellar tract
Tectocerebellar tract

Question 12

Which two afferent tracts provide information relevant to movement planning and execution to the cerebellum?

Answer 12

Corticopontocerebellar tract
Olivocerebellar tract

Question 13

Which two fibres input information into the cerebellar cortex?

Answer 13

Mossy fibres
Climbing fibres

Question 14

What are the three histological layers of the grey matter in the cerebellar cortex?

Answer 14

Molecular cell layer
Purkinje cell layer
Granule cell layer

Question 15

What is the difference between mossy fibres and climbing fibres?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Where do most of the purkinje cell axons synapse?

Answer 16

Deep cerebellar nuclei

Question 17

Are purkinje cells axons inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 17

Purkinje cell axons are inhibitory

Question 18

What are deep cerebellar nuclei?

Answer 18

Clusters of neuronal cell bodies located in the white matter of the cerebellum

Question 19

What are the three main deep cerebellar nuclei?

Answer 19

Fastigial nucleus
Interposital nucleus
Dentate nucleus

Question 20

Are the efferent projections from the deep cerebellar nuclei inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 20

The efferent projections from the deep cerebellar nuclei are excitatory and project to the pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems

Question 21

Where do purkinje cell axons synapse if they are processing information from the vestibulocerebellum?

Answer 21

Vestibular nuclei in the brainstem

Question 22

What are cerebellar peduncles?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What are the three cerebellar peduncles?

Answer 23

Rostral cerebellar peduncle
Middle cerebellar peduncle
Caudal cerebellar peduncle

Question 24

Which afferent tracts enter the cerebrocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncles?

Answer 24

Corticopontocerebellar tract via the middle peduncle and olivocerebellar tract via the caudal peduncle

Question 25

Which structure receives information from cerebrocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncle?

Answer 25

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)

Question 26

Which afferent tracts enter the spinocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncles?

Answer 26

Ventral spinocerebellar tract fibres via the rostral peduncle and dorsal spinocerebellar tract fibres from the caudal peduncle

Question 27

Which structures receive information from spinocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncle?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Which afferent tracts enter the vestibulocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncles?

Answer 28

Vestibulocerebellar tract via the caudal cerebellar peduncle

Question 29

Which structures receive information from vestibulocerebellum and via which cerebellar peduncle?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Which key clinical signs are indicative of damage to the cerebrocerebellum?

Answer 30

Dysmetria
Intention tremors

Question 31

Which key clinical sign is indicative of damage to the vestibulocerebellum?

Answer 31

Paradoxical vestibular disease

Question 31

Which key clinical signs are indicative of damage to the spinocerebellum?

Answer 31

Hypermetria
Spasticity

Question 32

What are five clinical signs of cerebellar dysfunction?

Answer 32

Cerebellar ataxia
Nystagmus
Intention tremors
Ipsilateral head tilt
Hypermetria