Chapter: Human Neuroanatomy(Fundamental and Clinical): Internal Structure of Cerebellum

Connections between Cerebellum and Cerebral Cortex

The connections between the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex are all indirect.

Connections between Cerebellum and Cerebral Cortex

The connections between the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex are all indirect.

Cortico-cerebellar pathways

The cerebral cortex influences the cerebellum through various centres in the brainstem (and possibly even through the spinal cord) through the following pathways.

(a) The most important of these is the cortico-ponto-cerebellar pathway considered. The arcuate nuclei and the pontobulbar body represent displaced pontine nuclei. The cortico-arcuato-cerebellar, and the cortico-pontobulbar-cerebellar pathways are, functionally, equivalent to the cortico-ponto-cerebellar pathway.Other pathways connecting the cerebral cortex to the cerebellum are as follows.

(b) Cortico-olivo-cerebellar;

(d) Cortico-rubro-cerebellar;

(e) Cortico-tecto-cerebellar; and

(f) Cortico-spino-cerebellar.

Some of the impulses may reach these intermediary centres through the corpus striatum.

Cerebello-cortical pathways

We have seen that the cerebellum projects upon the cerebellar nuclei from where fresh fibres relay to the thalamus. Thalamocortical fibres carry these impulses to the cerebral cortex. Cerebellar impulses can also reach the cerebral cortex through a cerebello-reticulo-thalamo-cortical pathway.

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Human Neuroanatomy(Fundamental and Clinical): Internal Structure of Cerebellum : Connections between Cerebellum and Cerebral Cortex |