Point 18
Intro
Pathway
Deficit
Summary
Overview
Problems
Contents
Anatomy
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 The
majority of fibers that pass OUT of the cerebellum to
the brain stem do so via the SUPERIOR CEREBELLAR
PEDUNCLE. This peduncle is formed by axons that arise
from certain deep cerebellar nuclei. These nuclei lie deep
in the cerebellum. The "most famous" of these deep
cerebellar nuclei resembles the inferior olive and is called
the dentate nucleus (the remaining will be discussed
later). This bundle passes rostrally into the dorsal pons
where it forms a compact bundle along the dorsolateral wall
of the fourth ventricle. At the level of the inferior
colliculus all fibers of the superior cerebellar peduncle
decussate. The majority of these crossed fibers ascend and
either terminate in the red nucleus or continue rostrally to
end within the MOTOR NUCLEI OF THE THALAMUS, the
VENTRAL LATERAL and VENTRAL ANTERIOR nuclei.
These thalamic nuclei project to motor-related cortical
areas. Further details of the pathways connecting the
cerebellar cortex with the brain stem and thalamus will be
discussed during the lectures on the cerebellum.
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