The Cerebellum

Question 1

What are the clinical signs of cerebellar dysfunction?

Answer 1

1. Unstable gait and stance
2. Jerky and unsmooth movements that are accompanied by intentional tremor
3. Ataxia (dys-coordination) of trunk/extremities
4. Dysmetria of movement
5. Eye movement disorders
6. Speech disorders

Question 2

How long is the unfolded human cerebellum?

Answer 2

About 2 meters long

Question 3

The anterior and posterior lobe of the cerebellum are separated by what?

Answer 3

Primary fissure

Question 4

How does the cerebellum receive inputs?

Answer 4

From the neocortex via the pinto-cerebellar pathway

Question 5

How do pontine projections reach the cerebellum?

Answer 5

Via the middle cerebellar peduncle

Question 6

Deep cerebella nuclei receive what?

Answer 6

Purkinje cell output

Question 7

Deep cerebellar nuclei project through what?

Answer 7

The superior cerebellar peduncle to thalamus and brainstem nuclei

Question 8

The cerebellar peduncles connect what?

Answer 8

The cerebellum with the rest of the brain

Question 9

The inferior cerebellar peduncle carries what?

Answer 9

Spinal afferences and both afferences and efferences connecting the cerebella, with the vestibular nuclei

Question 10

What is the main cerebellar output route?

Answer 10

Superior cerebellar peduncle

Question 11

Most axons from deep cerebellar nuclei project through what?

Answer 11

Superior cerebellar peduncle

Question 12

The cerebellum controls what half of the body?

Answer 12

Ipsilateral half

Question 13

Cerebellar output through the superior cerebellar peduncle crosses the midline at what?

Answer 13

Decussation of the Superior Cerebellar Peduncles

Question 14

Where does cerebellar output through the Superior Cerebellar Peduncle project to?

Answer 14

Thalamic nuclei which in turn project to motor and premotor cortex

Question 15

Output from motor and premotor cortex recrosses the midline in the what?

Answer 15

Pyramidal decussation

Question 16

What are the inputs for the Vestibulocerebellum (Flocculonodular lobe)?

Answer 16

From ipsilateral vestibular nuclei via the inferior cerebellar peduncle

Question 17

Outputs to vestibular nuclei via inferior cerebellar peduncle control what?

Answer 17

Eye movements and body equilibrium

Question 18

What are the inputs for the Spinocerebellum?

Answer 18

From ipsilateral spinal cord and trigeminal nerve mostly through the inferior cerebellar peduncle

Question 19

Outputs via interposed and fastigial nuclei mostly via the superior cerebellar peduncle control what? and go where?

Answer 19

Motor execution and coordination; go to spinal cord

Question 20

What are the inputs for the Cerebrocerebellum?

Answer 20

From contralateral neocortex via pontine nuclei and middle cerebellar peduncle

Question 21

Outputs via dentate nuclei and superior cerebellar peduncle go where and control what?

Answer 21

Go to motor and premotor cortices via thalamus; control motor planning and coordination

Question 22

What are the 3 primary layers of the cerebellar cortex?

Answer 22

1. Outer molecular layer
2. Purkinje cell layer
3. Granule cell layer

Question 23

The outer molecular layer contains what cells?

Answer 23

Stellate and basket cells

Question 24

The Purkinje cell layer contains what cells?

Answer 24

Purkinje cells

Question 25

The granule cell layer contains what cells?

Answer 25

Granule cells and Golgi cells

Question 26

Which cell layer is the largest?

Answer 26

Granule cell layer