The term ‘cerebellum’ is derived from the Latin word for ‘little brain’. Its primary function is to facilitate motor control and enable well-timed and smooth bodily responses. However, the cerebellum also handles many other cortical functions, including the experience of pleasure and fear and even speech control.

In this guide, you can get a comprehensive idea about the anatomy of the cerebellum. Moreover, we will walk you through its functions and development before finally arriving at the relevance of different cerebellar disorders. 

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What is the Cerebellum?

The cerebellum is a section of the body’s central nervous system (CNS) that helps you to control your movements. 

During embryonic development, the brain and its associated components are formed from the anterior part of the neural tube. From here, the hindbrain gets divided into the myelencephalon (inferior) and metencephalon (superior) parts. Consequently, we witness the formation of the cerebellum in the latter division. 

What is the Difference Between the Cerebellum and Cerebrum?

Located at the bottom of your brain, the cerebellum is a small section placed near the back of your head. Conversely, the cerebrum constitutes the largest component of the human brain, surrounding the front side and top of the cerebellum. 

Anatomical Structure and Divisions of the Cerebellum

As far as location is concerned, the cerebellum is a part of the hindbrain situated inside the posterior cranial fossa within the skull cavity. Parts of it are located dorsal to the brainstem, caudal to the cerebrum, and tentorium cerebelli. 

The middle, inferior, and superior cerebellar peduncles link the cerebellum to other corners of the brain, such as the midbrain, pons, and medulla. 

Anatomical Features of the Cerebellum

This part of the brain is divided by a midline vermis into right and left hemispheres. Some of its tissues act as landmarks to mark the cerebellum into different lobes. Here’s how it takes place:

• The primary fissure is responsible for dividing the cerebellum into larger posterior and smaller anterior lobes.
• Then, the horizontal fissure distinguishes the superior and inferior sections (although functionally, this section may not be that prominent).
• After this, the posterolateral fissure divides the flocculonodular lobe. 

Proceeding towards a cerebellum’s internal structure, the arrangement may not seem that dissimilar when compared to the cerebrum: 

• Deep within the cerebellum’s white matter lie the cerebellar nuclei. They are clusters of grey matter that serve as crucial connection points to the cerebellar cortex. 
• The cerebellar nuclei comprise interposed nuclei (combined emboliform and globose), fastigial, and dentate. 

In the table below, you can have a quick look at some of the vital cells and fibres connected with the cerebellum:

Cells/Fibres of Cerebellum	Location
Parallel Fibres/Granule Cells	Situated within the parallel fibres (molecular layer) and the granule cells
Purkinje Cells	Forms an integral part of the Purkinje layer, whereas the dendrites stretch into the molecular layer. Finally, the axons extend from the cerebellar cortex.
Basket Cells	Present in the molecular layer
Stellate Cells	Present in the molecular layer
Golgi Cells	Located in the granular layer
Climbing Fibres	Can be found in cerebellar grey matter and white matter along with the brain stem
Mossy Fibres	Situated in the brain stem apart from cerebellar grey and white matter

Regarding its divisions, the cerebellum can be associated with three major functional segments. These sections collectively support the functional anatomy of the cerebellum. The list includes:

Cerebellar Divisions	Potential/ Identified Functional Regions	Peduncles	Functions of the Division
Vestibulocerebellum	Flocculonodular lobe and vermis	Inferior cerebellar peduncle	Helps in coordinating conjugate eye movements and establishing balance
Spinocerebellum	Paravermal cortices, vermis and anterior lobe’s cortex	Superior and inferior cerebellar peduncles	Facilitates posture correction, muscle coordination, and corrects motor activities
Cerebrocerebellum	Cortex of the cerebellar hemispheres	Middle and superior cerebellar peduncles	Initiates movements and helps to control voluntary movements

What are the Pathways of the Cerebellum?

To stay connected with other segments of the nervous system, the cerebellum is dependent on three major pathways:

1. Superior Cerebellar Peduncle 

Also referred to as the Brachium Conjunctivum, this peduncle is primarily an efferent pathway, meaning it carries signals to the muscles away from the nervous system. These fibres originate within the deep cerebellar nuclei to later on project to the red nucleus via the thalamus. 

The superior cerebellar peduncle aids in motor coordination and enables the adoption of habits by transmitting processed behaviours from the cerebellum to the higher motor centres.

2. Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle 

The inferior cerebellar peduncle comprises both efferent and afferent fibres. As a result, these connections collect signal inputs from the spinal cord, brainstem tegmentum, and vestibular nuclei. Additionally, this segment is responsible for transmitting outputs to both the reticular formation and vestibular nuclei.

The cerebellar inferior peduncle is overall vital for correcting posture, balance and ocular reflexes by coordinating spinal inputs.  

3. Middle Cerebellar Peduncle

The middle peduncle, or Brachium Pontis, is an afferent pathway that collects inputs from the pontine nuclei. Next, these fibres of the cerebellum expand to the cerebellum after extending past the midline. 

In terms of motor planning and learning, the middle cerebellar peduncle is important for feeding cortical information into cerebellar functions. 

What are the Functions of the Cerebellum?

The cerebellum is known for fulfilling different functions that are related to muscle coordination and movements. These include:

• Maintaining Balance: The cerebellum is composed of distinctive sensors that can detect shifts in movements and balance accordingly. Therefore, it distributes signals for a body to adapt to various situations and move about.
• Controlling Movements: Almost all the movements need to combine different muscle groups. In this respect, the cerebellum plays a huge part as it times muscle actions and facilitates smooth movements.
• Motor Learning: The cerebellum guides our body to practice and master movements that require precision and fine-tuning. For instance, when it comes to practising how to play a musical instrument or learning how to swim, the cerebellum plays a major role. 

Additionally, the cerebellum aids vision by coordinating eye movements. Also, researchers strongly speak for its involvement in developing thoughts, a particular mood, or even processing language. However, these assumptions still need to gather full-range exploration.

What are the Symptoms of Cerebellar Disorders?

Some signs of a cerebellar disorder are as follows:

• Facing challenges with walking and mobility
• Lack of muscle coordination
• Difficulty in speaking or slurred speech
• Headaches
• Abnormal eye movements

Besides these symptoms, over the period, medical researchers have found many disorders associated with the cerebellum. These include:

• Brain bleeds
• Toxins
• Stroke
• Genetic anomalies
• Infection
• Cancer

However, to date, the fundamental symptom of cerebellar dysfunction is ataxia. It is the medical term used to describe a notable loss of muscle control and coordination. Beyond the primary symptom of ataxia, which is muscle control loss, those diagnosed can even encounter the following challenges:

• Tiredness
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Blurry vision
• Challenges faced when it comes to precise muscle control
• Changes in thoughts and mood

Several factors may cause ataxia, including: 

• Genetics 
• Head injury 
• Stroke 
• Cerebral palsy and more 

How to Minimise the Chances of Damage to the Cerebellum?

Several actions can be taken to prevent damage to your cerebellum, such as:

• Prioritise Having a Balanced Diet

Vitamin B12 is very much essential for your brain. So, you need to ensure sufficient intake of vitamin B12 in your diet to maintain a healthy cerebellum.

• Do not Overlook Infections

Consider promptly addressing infections, particularly eye infections, to prevent them from spreading to the brain and causing serious medical repercussions.

• Stick to Prescribed Medications

Several drugs can put stress on your brain, especially your cerebellum. Thus, you should consult a doctor before taking any medicine to avoid these issues. 

• Wear Safety Gear as Needed

You must protect your head and neck from injuries by consistently using appropriate safety gear during work, bike riding and recreational activities.

FAQs About Cerebellum

1. What is the main job of the cerebellum?

Primarily, the cerebellum is meant for controlling the body’s balance while walking, standing or performing other complicated motor functions. 

2. At what age does the cerebellum develop?

Cerebellar growth starts in the first trimester, roughly 30 days post-conception, and completes around two years after birth.

3. Is the cerebellum in two parts?

Yes, the cerebellum is formed of two hemispheres that are connected together by vermis. Located in the hindbrain, the cerebellum collects inputs and transmits output signals through a limited number of cells. 

4. How to cure cerebellum damage?

To date, no permanent cure for cerebellar damage has been found. However, supportive medical treatments can help minimise the effects of symptoms. 

5. How to improve your cerebellum?

You can bring many lifestyle changes to improve the overall health of your cerebellum. To lower the risk of a cerebellar injury or infection, consider protecting your head while riding a bike, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol and promptly taking care of eye infections.

Conclusion

Overall, the cerebellum is one of the most critical components of the brain. With time, advancements in medical technologies have helped doctors diagnose the various conditions that can affect the cerebellum early and thereby assisted them in finding effective and timely solutions.

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