Lab 21.

Cerebellum

Outline
n Overview
n Anatomy
¡ External morphology, lobes, lobules, cerebellar
peduncles, cerebellar cortex, deep cerebellar
nuclei
n Connectivity
¡ Input
¡ Output
¡ Functional subdivisions**
n Clinical-lesions

1
 Overview
n “Little Brain”
n The cerebellum is
composed of:
¡ 1) Convoluted
cerebellar cortex
¡ 2) White matter

¡ 3) Deep nuclei

n Attached to the
brainstem by 3 white
matter (cerebellar
peduncles)

Anatomy
n Posterior to the
brainstem
n Brainstem and
cerebellum fill the
posterior cranial fossa
and covered by the
tentorium cerebelli

2
 External Morphology

n Vermis- midline
¡ “worm”, narrow
n Hemisphere- lateral
¡ expansive

Inferior view

External Morphology

ventral view

3
 Divisions-Lobes
n Anterior Lobe
n Posterior Lobe
n Flocculonodular
lobe

n Primary fissure
o (separate anterior
and posterior lobe)
n Posterolateral
fissure
¡ (separate
flocculonodular lobe
from cerebellum)

Divisions- Lobules
n Lobes of the CB are
composed of smaller
divisions- lobules
¡ Lobules I-V = anterior lobe
¡ Lobules VI-IX= posterior lobe
¡ Lobule X (Nodulus)= vermis part
of the Flocculonodular lobe

n Each lobule consists of

ridges of cortex= “Folia”

4
 Connections- Input
n Inferior cerebellar peduncle (restiform body)
¡ Proprioceptive information from muscle spindles
(DSCT, CCT)
¡ Contral. Inf. olive (olivocerebellar axons)
¡ vestibular nuclei (vestibulocerebellar fibers)

n Middle Cerebellar peduncle (brachium pontis)

¡ Pontine nuclei of the opposite side (Pontocerebellar
fibers), relay information from the cortex
¡ largest.

Cerebellar Cortex
n Cerebellar cortex- systematic
and regular organization
n Simple 3-layered structure:
¡ Molecular layer (axons),
¡ Purkinje layer (cell body),
¡ Granular layer (granule cell)

n Inputs arrive at the cerebellar

cortex (purkinje cell) à
project to deep nucleià deep
nuclei provide the cerebellar
output

5
 Internal morphology-
Cerebellar nuclei
n All outputs from the cerebellum originate from the
cerebellar deep nuclei. 3 principal longitudinal zones
n Vermis--Fastigial nucleus
¡ Medial, postural control
n Intermediate--Interposed nuclei (globose + emboliform)
¡ paravermis, limb movements
n Hemisphere--Dentate nucleus
¡ Lateral, planning movements

Connections- Output
n Superior cerebellar peduncle
¡ Originates from interposed and dentate
nucleus
¡ Decussates in the tegmentum of the midbrain
¡ Axons à red nucleusà VLà premotor cortex

n Inferior cerebellar peduncle

¡ Other efferents originate from vestibular and
fastigial nucleus
¡ Axons à ipsi. Vestibular nuclei and reticular
formation (medial brainstem pathways)

6
Three Functional Subdivisions
Somatotopic maps of the body
surface in the cerebellum

Functional divisions of the

Cerebellum
n Vestibulocerebellum
¡ flocculonodular lobe- lateral vestibular nucleus
¡ Receives vestibular input
¡ Involved in equilibrium, vestibular reflexes (eg VOR), eye
movements
n Spinocerebellum
¡ Vermal (fastigial nucleus) and paravermal region
(interposed nucleus)
¡ Receives spinal input
¡ Involved in muscle tone and postural control; regulate body
and limb movement; integration of sensory input with motor
commands to produce adaptive motor coordination.

n Cerebrocerebellum
¡ Lateral part, hemisphere- dentate nucleus
¡ Receives cerebral cortical inputs (corticopontocerebellar
pathway)
¡ Involved in coordination of voluntary movement,
¡ Planning movement and evaluating sensory information,
cognitive function

7
 Summary

The three functional regions of the cerebellum have different

inputs and outputs

Clinical syndromes
n Midline damage (vermis, paravermis)
Ø -anterior lobe syndrome (in alcoholics)
Ø -primary involvement of the legs, broad-
based, staggering gait, ataxia
(incoordination) of leg movements

n Lateral damage
Ø -Hypotonia, hyporeflexia, dysmetria (over- or
undershoot targets), intention tremor,
dysdiadochokinesia (difficulty with rapid
alternating movements)

All cerebellar lesions produce ipsilateral

symptoms.

8
Today

n Work on the worksheet for labs 21-22.

Identify the listed structures, indicate
basic functions/significance, and
answer the questions.
n Use Cerebellar images posted on
moodle.
n Quiz yourself and each other on the
listed structures.