cerebellum

The cerebellum (“little brain”) is a structure

that is located at the back of the brain,
Situated behind the medulla and pons
cerebellum accounts for approximately
10% of the brain’s volume, it contains over
50% of the total number of neurons in the
brain
cerebellum

Called silent area because the

electrical stimulation of cerebellum
does not produce any conscious
sensation or motor activities
Removal of cerebellum causes body
movements to become highly
abnormal
cerebellum
 Thecerebellum especially vital during rapid
muscular activities such as running,typing,playing
piano and talking. Damage of this area cause
total incoordination of these movements
 The cerebellum has been considered a motor
structure, because cerebellar damage leads to
impairments in motor control and posture and
because the majority of the cerebellum’s outputs
are to parts of the motor system. motor
commands are not initiated in the cerebellum;
rather, the cerebellum modifies the motor
commands of the descending pathways to make
cerebellum

 Thecerebellum is involved in the following

functions:
 Maintenance of balance and posture
 Coordination of voluntary movements.
 Motor
learning (e.g., learning to hit a
baseball).
 Cognitivefunctions(It is involved in certain
cognitive functions, such as language.)
Divisions of the cerebellum.

 The cerebellum consists of two major parts

 The
cerebellar deep nuclei (or cerebellar nuclei)
and cerebral cortex
 Thesenuclei are encased by a highly convoluted
sheet of tissue called the cerebellar cortex
Divisions of the cerebellum.
 Two major fissures running divide the cerebellar
cortex into three primary subdivisions .
the posterolateral fissure separates
the flocculonodular lobe from the corpus
cerebelli, and the primary fissure separates the
corpus cerebelli into a posterior lobe and
an anterior lobe .
Divisions of the cerebellum
 the cerebellum is also divided into three zones
1.the vermis (from the Latin word for worm) is located
along the midsagittal plane of the cerebellum. Vermis
control muscle movement of neck,shoulder,hip
 directly lateral to the vermis is the intermediate zone. It
control muscle contraction in the distal portion of upper
and lower limbs, especially in the hand,finger,and toes
 finally, the lateral hemispheres are located lateral to the
intermediate zone
 It control sequential motor movements
ANATOMY OF CEREBELLUM
ANATOMY OF CEREBELLUM
LAYERS OF CEREBRAL CORTEX

 The functional unit of cerebellar cortex are

purkinji cells and deep nuclear cells
 Cerebellum contain three layers
 Molecular layer
 Purkinji layer
 Granular layer
LAYERS OF CEREBRAL CORTEX
NUCLEUS OF CERELLUM

 Itcontain three nucleus

 Interposed nucleus-voluntary
movement
 Dendate nucleus-voluntary
movement
 Fastigial nucleus-concerned with
balance
Functional Subdivisions of the
Cerebellum
1.Vestibulocerebellum. the vestibulocerebellum
comprises the flocculonodular lobe and its connections
with the lateral vestibular nuclei.
 Vestibular cerebellum is connected with vestibular
apparatus
 phylogenetic ally, the vestibulocerebellum is the
oldest part of the cerebellum. So it is called arche
cerebellum
 It is mainly for maintain posture and equilibrium
 It control eye movement
 2. SPINOCEREBELLUM. The spinocerebellum comprises
the vermis and the intermediate zones of the cerebellar
cortex, as well as the fastigial and interposed nuclei.
 It is connected with spinal cord
 As its name implies, it receives major inputs from the
spinocerebellar tract.
 It is involved in the integration of sensory input with motor
commands to produce adaptive motor coordination
 Control muscle tone and muscle contraction during
movement
 phylogenetic ally, the spinocerebellum is the oldest part
of the cerebellum. So it is called paleo cerebellum
 Cerebrocerebellum(corticocerebellum). the
cerebrocerebellum is the largest functional subdivision of the
human cerebellum, comprising the lateralhemispheres and
the dentate nuclei.
 its name derives from its extensive connections with the
cerebral cortex, via the pontine nuclei (afferents) and
thalamus (efferents).
 it is involved in the planning and timing of movements(skilled
movements).
 in addition, the cerebrocerebellum is involved in the
cognitive functions of the cerebellum.
 phylogenetic ally, the corticocerebellum is the newer
part of the cerebellum. So it is called neo cerebellum
Function of cerebellum in overall motor
control
Damping action
 It is the done through corticocerebellum
 It refers to the prevention of exaggerated muscular
activity
 This help to voluntary movement become smoothly and
accurate
 All the voluntary muscular activities are initiated by
motor area of cerebral cortex
 Simultaneously corticocerebellum receive impulses from
motor cortex as well as feedback signals from muscle
and maintain smooth and accurate voluntary
movement
Control of ballistic movement
 Ballistic movements are rapid, alternate movement such
as movements of fingers while typing, saccadic
movement of eyes
 Ballistic movement take place in different parts of the
body while doing a skilled or trained job
 Corticocerebellum plays an important role in
preplanning the ballistic movements in the learning
process
 In ballistic movement entire movements are preplanned
and set in motion to move a specific distance and then
to stop
Control of ballistic movement

 cortico cerebellum is removed or damaged

three major changes will occur
 The movements are slow to develop
 The force developed is weak
 Movements are slow to turn off
Timing and programming the
movements
 During the learning process corticocerebellum plans
various sequential movements
 While using a typewriter ,while doing any fast skilled
work a chain of movements will occur in a sequential
manner
 This movements are under control of
corticocerebellum
 Corticocerebellum plans schedule of time during
each movement and time duration of each
movement and time interval between movements
SERVOMECHANISM
 It is the correction of any disturbance or interference
while performing skilled work
 Once the skilled works are learned the sequential
movements are executed without any interruption
 Cerebellum lets the cerebral cortex to discharge the
signals, which already programmed and stored in
sensory motor cortex and does not interfere much
 If there is any disturbance the corticocerebellum
immediately influence the cortex and correct the
movements
COMPARATIVE FUNCTION
 This function of corticocerebellum is responsible for the
integration and coordination of various muscular activities
 On one side cerebellum receives information from cerebral
cortex regarding the cortical impulses which are send to the
muscles, on the other side it receives feedback information
from the muscle regarding their action under the instruction
of cerebral cortex
 By receiving message from both side, the corticocerebellm
compare the cortico commands for this muscular activity
and actual movements carried out by muscle movements
COMPARATIVE FUNCTION

 If any correction is to be done

corticocerebellum send impulses to motor
cortex and cerebral cortex correct or modify
signals to the muscle, so that the movements
become accurate, precise and smooth
Basal ganglia
 The basal ganglia (or basal nuclei) consist of multiple
subcortical nuclei, of varied origin, in
the brains of vertebrates, which are situated at the base
of the forebrain. basal ganglia nuclei are strongly
interconnected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus,
and brainstem, as well as several other brain areas. the
basal ganglia are associated with a variety of functions
including: control of voluntary motor movements,
procedural learning, routine behaviors or "habits" such
as teeth grinding, eye movements, cognition] and
emotion.
Basal ganglia

 Basal ganglia are scattered mass of grey matter

submerged in subcortical area of cerebral hemisphere
 It is a part of extrapyramidal system
 It is concerned with motor activity
It is also known as acessory motor system
 Connected with cerebral cortex and cortocospinal tract
Basal ganglia
 It receives input signals from cerebral cortex and return
all their output signals back to the cortex
 It contains
 Caudate nucleus
 Putamen
 Globus pallidus
 Substantia nigra
 Subthalamic nucleus
Basal ganglia
Basal ganglia
Basal ganglia
Pathways of basal ganglia
 The direct pathway(pyramidal system) of movement is a
neuronal circuit within the central nervous system(CNS)
through the basal ganglia which facilitates the initiation
and execution of voluntary movement. It works in
conjunction with the indirect pathway of movement.
 The indirect pathway(extra pyramidal system) of
movement is a neuronal circuit through the basal
ganglia and several associated nuclei within the central
nervous system (CNS) which helps to prevent unwanted
muscle contractions from competing with voluntary
movements
 NEURAL CIRCUTE OF BASAL
GANGLIA
It contain two major circuit
1.Putamen circuit
2.Caudate circuit
PUTAMEN CIRCUIT

 Through putamen circuit basal ganglia control complex

pattern of motor activity
 Eg:writing letters of alphabets
 Cutting paper with scissors, shooting basket ball to hoop,
passing football, rowing base ball, controlled movement
of eyes,vocalisation
 All the movements are controlled by subconsciously
 Corticospinal system putamen circuit together control
motor activity
PUTAMEN CIRCUIT
 Putamen circuit originate from premotor and
supplementary area of motor cortex and also the
somatosensory area of sensory cortex
 Signals from this area pass to putamen
 From this putamen signals passed into internal portion of
Globus pallidus’
 From Globus pallidus it moves into ventroanterior and
ventrolateral relay nuclei of thalamus
 Finally these signals return back to primary motor cortex
and premotor and supplementary area of motor cortex
ABNORMAL FUNCTIONINF OF
PUTAMEN CIRCUIT
 When a portion of this circuit is blocked or
damaged certain pattern of movements
become severely abnormal
 Lesion in the Globus pallidus leads to
spontaneous and continuous writing movements
of hands ,arms and neck and face
 Lesion in the substantia nigra leads to Parkinson
disease
PUTAMEN CIRCUIT
CAUDATE CIRCUIT
 The term cognition means thinking process of
brain
 In cognition we use both sensory input to the
brain and information already stored in the brain
 Most of our motor actions occurs as a
consequence of thoughts generated in the
minds, this process is called cognitive control of
motor activity
 Cognitive control of motor activity occurs
subconsciously
CAUDATE CIRCUIT
 It originate from all lobes of brain and also from
association area of cerebral cortex
 Signals from this area reach into caudate nucleus
 From this caudate signals pass into internal portion of
Globus pallidus
 From internal Globus pallidus it move into thalamus
 Finally this signal return to the prefrontal area and also to
the premotor, and supplementary motor area of
cerebral cortex
CAUDATE CIRCUIT
EG :OF COGNITIVE CONTROL

A person seeing a lion approach and

responding instantaneously and
automatically by turning away from the
lion, beginning to run, attempting to climb
a tree
 Withoutthe cognitive function ,the person
might not have the instinctive knowledge
to respond quickly and appropriately
FUNCTION OF BASAL GANGLIA

 Thebasal ganglia are responsible for

voluntary motor control, procedural
learning, and eye movement, as well as
cognitive and emotional functions
FUNCTION OF BASAL GANGLIA

 It control muscle tone

 Control reflex muscular activity
 Control automatic associative movements
 Eg:appropriate facial movements when talking,
Swing of hands when walking
 Role in arousal
 It facilitate purposeful behavior and movements
and inhibit unwanted or inappropriate movements
 Basal ganglia control and determine timing and
intensity of movement
 Eg:a person may write the letter “a” slowly or
rapidly, also he/she may write a small “a” on a
piece of paper of large “a” on a black board
 basal ganglia do not function alone, they
function in close association with cerebral cortex
especially the parietal lobe
 damage to the parietal lobe does not produce
sensory perception, this damage leads to lose of
tactile sensation ,blindness, deafness
 the person with lesions in the right parietal cortex
leads ton personal neglect syndrome
 Person with lesions in the right posterior
parietal cortex, lose the ability to copy the
left side of drawing. Such person will
always try to avoid using his/her left arm,
left hand or other portion of his/her left
body for the performance of task or even
wash this side of the body, almost not
knowing that this part of his/her body exist
Neurotransmitters in basal ganglia
DOPAMINE
 inhibitory neuron
 SUBSTANTIA NIGRA……….CAUDATE AND PUTAMEN
GAMMA AMINO BUTYRIC ACID
 CAUDATE….SNAND GLOBUS PALLIDUS
 PUTAMEN….SN AND GLOBUS PALLIDUS
 These two provide stability to the motor system
ACETYCHOLINE PATHWAY
CORTEX…..CAUDATE AND PUTAMEN
Neurotransmitters in basal ganglia

MULTIPLE GENERAL PATHWAY FROM BRAIN STEM

 It secrete norepinephrin,enkephalinand
serotonin and transmit several transmitters to
other parts of cerebral cortex
MULTIPLE GLUTAMATE PATHWAY
 It provide excitatory signals for the balancing of
inhibitory signals transmitted by
dopamine,GABA,and serotonin
 Parkinson's is characterized by tremor (shaking), rigid muscles,
difficulty making quick, smooth movements, and difficulty standing
and walking. Many people also develop depression and anxiety
and, later in life, problems with memory loss and dementia.
 It usually develops late in life, but it can occur in younger people.
 Parkinson's is originates in the death of cells in the substantia
nigra and the loss of dopamine and melanin produced by those
cells.
 It progresses to other parts of the basal ganglia and to the nerves
that control the muscles, involving other neurotransmitters.
 Possible causes or contributing factors include environmental toxins,
head trauma, and genetics.
 Parkinson's does not directly cause death and many patients live
long lives with it.
Huntington's disease

 Huntington's is characterized by loss of memory and odd jerking

movements called chorea ("dance"). It is a hereditary disease (with
a dominant gene) involving cell death in the caudate nucleus. It
usually starts in a person's 30s, but may start at any age.
 There is no cure, but there are treatments that can reduce the
symptoms. It is fatal, although it is complications of the disease that
usually cause death, rather than the disease itself.