Structure and function of the cerebellum Part 1

Question 1

Where is the cerebellum located? What surrounds it?

Answer 1

Part of the Hindbrain [sits in posterior fossa]
Below cerebrum [separated by the tentorium cerebelli]
Connected to the brainstem via cerebellar peduncles

                                       E?

Question 2

What is the cerebellar cortex made up of

Answer 2

Grey matter (folia)

Question 3

What is the cerebellar pathways made of?

Answer 3

White matter tracts

Question 4

What is cerebellum Latin for?

Answer 4

Little brain

Question 5

How old is the cerebellum?

Answer 5

Phylogenetically old
- many million years ago cerebellum existed in evolution
structure has been preserved and developed over time

Question 6

What is the cerebellum made of?

Answer 6

Layer of cerebellar cortex grey matter and middle filled with white matter tracts
Contains deep cerebellar nuclei within white matter

Question 7

What happens within the deep cerebella nuclei

Answer 7

cerebellar pathways synapse onto cells in the nuclei

Question 8

How is the cerebellum divided?

Answer 8

Left and right cerebellar hemispheres
Joined by a median vermis
Divided into:
-Anterior lobe 
- Posterior lobe
- Flocculonodular lobe

anterior lobe and posterior lobe by primary fissure
Flocculonodular lobe sits behind brain stem (most primitive lobe)
Cerebellar tonsils sit above foramen magnum

Question 9

What does the Flocculonodular lobe of the cerebellum control?

Answer 9

posture and balance and primitive style of movement

Interactions with other lobes of the cerebellum are what cause higher order movements

Question 10

What is the function of the cerebellum

Answer 10

Responsible for movement, co-ordination, motor control & sensory perception.
Co-ordinates movement on the ipsilateral side
Monitors and initiates voluntary movement through manipulation of fine muscle movement.
Partly responsible for learning motor skills
Receives Somatosensory and Proprioceptive information from the entire body
Receives Visual, Auditory, Vestibular information
Provides awareness of body position/how the body is coping with its environment
Integrates sensory information with motor movement plans

Question 11

How does information travel to the cerebellum

Answer 11

Cerebellar inputs through white matter tracts via cerebella peduncle

Question 12

What is information that is sent into the cerebellum?

Answer 12

Cerebellar inputs

Question 13

What are the types of cerebellar peduncle

Answer 13

Inferior peduncle
Superior peduncle
Middle peduncle

Question 14

What does peduncle mean

Answer 14

Stalk

Question 15

For cerebellar inputs from the spinal cord:
What tract information travelled?
Via what peduncle?
Enters where in the cerebellum?
What information is conveyed?

Answer 15

Spinocerebellar (Ascending) tracts —› anterior lobe and vermis
via inferior cerebellar peduncle
Unconscious proprioception

Question 16

For cerebellar inputs from vestibular nuclei:
What tract information travelled?
Via what peduncle?
Enters where in the cerebellum?
What information is conveyed?

Answer 16

Vestibulocerebellar tracts —› anterior lobe and vermis
via inferior cerebellar peduncle

Balance

Question 17

For cerebellar inputs from inferior olive nuclei:
What tract information travelled?
Via what peduncle?
Enters where in the cerebellum?
What does it do?

Answer 17

Olivocerebellar tract —› cerebellar hemispheres
via inferior cerebellar peduncle
Collects information together then projects into cerebellum

Question 18

What are the fibres called that come from the olive nuclei? Why?

Answer 18

climbing fibres

the way that they climb up other cells within the cerebellum

Question 19

For cerebellar inputs from cerebral cortex:
What tract information travelled?
Via what peduncle?
Enters where in the cerebellum?
What information is conveyed?
What is this pathway known as

Answer 19

Pontocerebellar tract
directed down to the pons and then there are multiple synapses onto pontine nuclei then transfers to the cerebellar cortex( esp. lateral hemisphere)

via middle cerebellar peduncle
from sensory or motor cortex

corticocerebellar pathway