Cerebellum

The cerebellum can be found just below your cerebrum and behind the upper portion of your brain stem. This is the area at the base of your skull where your head meets your neck. The cerebellum is divided up into three different parts called lobes. These lobes are separated from each other by deep grooves called fissures. There are two major components of the cerebellum: • Cerebellar cortex: This is a layer of thin, heavily folded tissue that contains most of the nerve cells in the cerebellum. • Cerebellar nuclei: Found deep within the cerebellum , the nerve cells of the cerebellar nuclei are primarily involved in sending information from the cerebellum. The cerebellum only accounts for about 10 percent of your brain’s total size. Although it’s much smaller than the cerebrum, it contains significantly more Some estimates say that the cerebellum contains about Your cerebellum receives input from other areas of your • the cerebrum • brain stem • It then uses this information to regulate and coordinate voluntary movements. Voluntary movements are movements that you can control, such as walking or throwing a baseball. In addition to voluntary movements, the cerebellum is also involved in coordination of the following: • Balance and posture: Your cerebellum works with sensory input from your eyes and ears to keep you upright and steady. • Motor learning: This involves the learning and fine-tuning of various movements. Examples include the specific, precise movements used for wri...

Synonyms: Cerebellar tentorium The tentorium cerebelli (Latin for "tent of the cerebellum") is an invagination of the meningeal layer of the supratentorial and infratentorial spaces and covers the cerebellum like a tent (hence its name!). In terms of function, the tent shape of the tentorium cerebelli ensures that the cerebellum and underlying brainstem are protected from the pressure caused by the heavier upper part of the brain. This article will discuss the Key facts about the tentorium cerebelli Definition The tentorium cerebelli is an invagination of dura mater that separates the occipital and temporal lobes of the cerebrum from the cerebellum and brainstem. Attachments Anterior margin: Anterior clinoid process Lateral margin: Superior border of the petrous part of the temporal bone, posterior clinoid process Posterior margin: Internal occipital protuberance, lips of the groove for transverse sinus Relations Anterior margin: Cavernous sinus Lateral margin: Superior petrosal sinuses Posterior margin: Transverse sinus Posterior part: Straight sinus Function Protects the cerebellum and infratentorial brainstem from pressure by suspending the lobes of the brain. Synonyms: Pachymeninx The The dura mater is a strong, double-layered membrane, composed of the periosteal layer, which adheres to the meningeal layer, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. In some regions and fissures of the brain, the meningeal layer of dura mater projects inwards to form four dural partitio...

The cerebellum is a vital component in the human • Coordinates • Maintains • Controls muscle tone and voluntary muscle activity • Is unable to initiate muscle contraction. Damage to this area in humans results in a loss in the ability to control fine movements, maintain The cerebellum is Anatomical Position [ | ] The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain, immediately inferior to the It lies at the same level of and posterior to the Structure [ | ] The cerebellum consists of two hemispheres which are connected by the vermis, a narrow midline area. The cerebellum consists of grey matter and white matter: • Grey matter – located on the surface of the cerebellum. It is tightly folded, forming the cerebellar cortex. The gray matter of the cortex divides into three layers: an external - the molecular layer; a middle - the Purkinje cell layer; and an internal - the granular layer. The molecular layer contains two types of neurons: the outer stellate cell and the inner basket cell. • White matter – located underneath the cerebellar cortex. Embedded in the white matter are the four cerebellar nuclei (the dentate, emboliform, globose, and fastigi nuclei). There are three ways that the cerebellum can be subdivided – anatomical lobes, zones and functional division • Anatomical Lobes There are three anatomical lobes that can be distinguished in the cerebellum. These lobes are divided by two fissures – the primary fissure and posterolateral fissure; • The anterior lobe, • The p...

What is the brain? The brain is a complex organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger and every process that regulates our body. Together, the brain and spinal cord that extends from it make up the central nervous system, or CNS. What is the brain made of? Weighing about 3 pounds in the average adult, the brain is about 60% fat. The remaining 40% is a combination of water, protein, carbohydrates and salts. The brain itself is a not a muscle. It contains blood vessels and nerves, including neurons and glial cells. What is the gray matter and white matter? Gray and white matter are two different regions of the central nervous system. In the brain, gray matter refers to the darker, outer portion, while white matter describes the lighter, inner section underneath. In the spinal cord, this order is reversed: The white matter is on the outside, and the gray matter sits within. Gray matter is primarily composed of neuron somas (the round central cell bodies), and white matter is mostly made of axons (the long stems that connects neurons together) wrapped in myelin (a protective coating). The different composition of neuron parts is why the two appear as separate shades on certain scans. Each region serves a different role. Gray matter is primarily responsible for processing and interpreting information, while white matter transmits that information to other parts of the nervous system. How does the brain work? The brai...

Cerebellum The word ‘little brain’, which is exactly what it looks like. Its main function is in motor control, where it enables smooth, well timed, proportional responses. However, the cerebellum has many other cortical functions including speech, emotions, as well as pleasure and fear. This article will discuss the anatomy of the cerebellum, as well as its functions and clinical relevance. We will also discuss the cell types, fiber types, cerebellar nuclei and functional consequences of cerebellar damage. Afferent and efferent pathways of the cerebellum Deep cerebellar nuclei Dentate, emboliform, fastigial, globose Afferent connections Olivocerebellar, vestibulocerebellar, reticulocerebellar, corticopontocerebellar and trigeminocerebellar tracts Efferent connections Cerebellovestibular, cerebelloreticular, corticonuclear, cerebellothalamic and cerebellorubral tracts Gross anatomy Neural development is one of the first to begin. The cerebellum developed from the metencephalon secondary vesicle, which in turn developed from the roof of the hind-brain. Anatomically, the cerebellum consists of the anterior lobe (anterior to the primary fissure), the posterior lobe (posterior to the primary fissure), and the flocculonodular lobe (below the posterior fissure). [Cerebellum] The cerebellum is located in the posterior cranial fossa of the cranial vault. Above it lies the sulci and folia respectively. A worm-like structure called the vermis wraps sagittally around its c...

ABOVE: modified from © istock.com, As a physician for the British Army during World War I, neurologist Gordon Holmes encountered many soldiers who had suffered gunshot wounds to the head. While caring for these unfortunate individuals, Holmes observed that damage to a small structure at the base of the brain called the cerebellum, which means “little brain” in Latin, primarily led to problems in coordinating movements. Holmes described these cases in a seminal 1917 paper in the journal Brain, where he called the cerebellum a “motor reinforcing organ.” 1 Rather than directly producing movements, he explained that the cerebellum “sets” or “tunes” them to ensure that they were “immediate, effective, and proportional to the intensity of the cerebral impulse.” In other words, the cerebellum helped orchestrate the motor commands from the cerebral cortex, the baseball glove–shaped structure that makes up most of the human brain and the organ’s master conductor. Holmes’s reports corroborated what other scientists had documented nearly a century earlier. In the early 1800s, French physiologist Marie-Jean-Pierre Flourens removed the cerebellums from pigeons and observed the animals stumbling around as if intoxicated. He, like Holmes, noted that the cerebellum was the seat of motor coordination in the brain. “For the past 100 years, that’s been kind of a textbook view of what the cerebellum is good for,” says Michael Hausser, a neuroscientist at University College London in the UK. B...

The cerebellum is a part of the brain that plays a vital role in most physical movement, including eye movements. Problems with the cerebellum can lead to co-ordination difficulties, fatigue, and other challenges. This part of the brain helps a person drive, throw a ball, or walk across the room. Problems with the cerebellum are rare and mostly involve movement and coordination difficulties. This article explains the anatomy, functions, and possible disorders of the cerebellum. It will also offer tips on preserving brain health. Share on Pinterest Callista Images/Getty Images The brain is a complex organ. It has three main parts; the cerebrum, the brainstem, and the cerebellum. The cerebellum The cerebellum is the lower-back part of the brain. It only accounts for around The cerebrum The • The frontal lobe: This sits at the front and top of the brain. It is responsible for the highest levels of human thinking and behavior, such as planning, judgment, decision making, impulse control, and attention. • The parietal lobe: This lobe lies behind the frontal lobe. This lobe takes in sensory information and helps an individual understand their position in their environment. • The temporal lobe: A lobe at the lower front of the brain. This lobe has strong links with visual memory, language, and emotion. • The occipital lobe: This is at the back of the brain. The occipital lobe processes visual input from the eyes. The brainstem The brainstem is the bottom portion of the brain. It ...