The Cerebellum

The cauliflower-like cerebellum, the second of the

brains major parts as we move caudally to rostrally,
makes up 11% of the mass of the brain.
Only the cerebrum is larger.

The cerebellum is located dorsal to the pons and

medulla oblongata, from which it is separated by the
fourth ventricle
 Functionally, the cerebellum smooths and
coordinates body movements that are directed
by other brain regions, and it helps maintain
posture and equilibrium.
 The cerebellum consists of two expanded cerebellar
hemispheres connected medially by the wormlike
vermis.

The surface of the cerebellum is folded into many

platelike ridges called folia (fo le-ah; leaves), which
are separated by deep grooves called fissures.

Each cerebellar hemisphere is subdivided into three

lobes: the large anterior and posterior lobes, and the
small flocculonodular (flok u-lo-nod - u-lar) lobe.
 The flocculonodular lobes are hidden ventral
to the posterior lobe.

Functionally, the flocculonodular lobes adjust

posture to maintain equilibrium and coordinate
head and eye movements,

whereas the anterior and posterior lobes

coordinate trunk and limb movements
 The cerebellum has three regions:
An outer cortex of gray matter (the cerebellar cortex)
which is a neuron-rich calculator whose function is to
smooth our body movements,

Internal white matter called the arbor vitae (ar bor vi

te; tree of life), consists of axons that carry
information to and from the cortex.

Deeply situated gray matter called deep cerebellar

nuclei give rise to axons that relay the instructions
from the cerebellar cortex to other parts of the brain.
 To coordinate body movements, the cerebellar
cortex continuously receives three types of
information about how the body is moving:

1. Information on equilibrium relayed from

receptors in the inner ear through the vestibular
nuclei in the medulla oblongata to the
flocculonodular lobe
2. Information on the current movements of the
limbs, neck, and trunk, which travels from the
proprioceptors in muscles, tendons, and joints up
the spinal cord to the vermis and medial portions
of the anterior and posterior lobes

3. Information from the cerebral cortex, which

passes from the cerebral cortex through the
pontine nuclei in the pons to the lateral portion of
the anterior and posterior lobes
 The cerebellum first receives information on the movements
being planned by the regions of the cerebrum that initiate
voluntary movements, the motor cortex of the cerebrum.

Then the cerebellum compares these intended movements

with current body position and movements and finally it
sends instructions back to the cerebral cortex on how to
resolve any differences between the intended movements
and current position.

Using this feedback from the cerebellum, the motor cortex

of the cerebrum continuously readjusts the motor
commands it sends to the spinal cord, fine-tuning
movements so that they are well coordinated.
 The cerebellum is also involved in some higher cognitive
functions.

When learning a new motor skill, the cerebellum refines

movements to correct for errors. After practice, the skill is
mastered and it can be performed automatically, like riding
a bike. This retention of learned motor skills is called motor
memory.

The cerebellum also participates in cognition. Functional

neuroimaging studies and studies of individuals with
cerebellar damage indicate that the cerebellum plays some
role in language, problem solving, and task planning.

Overall, its cognitive function may be to recognize, use, and

predict sequences of events that we experience or perceive.
 The superior, middle, and inferior cerebellar
peduncles are thick tracts of nerve fibers that connect
the cerebellum to the brain stem.

These fiber tracts carry the information that travels

from and to the cerebellum.
 The superior cerebellar peduncles connect the
cerebellum to the midbrain, carrying primarily efferent
instructions from the cerebellum toward the cerebral
cortex.

The middle cerebellar peduncles connect the pons to

the cerebellum and carry efferent information from the
cerebral cortex and the pontine nuclei into the
cerebellum.

The inferior cerebellar peduncles arise from the

medulla and carry primarily afferent fibers from the
vestibular nuclei (equilibrium) and from the spinal cord
(proprioception) into the cerebellum.
 All fibers that enter and leave the cerebellum are
ipsilateral (ip s-lat er-al; ipsi same), which
means that they run to and from the same side of
the body.