GROSS FEATURES OF CEREBELLUM
• The cerebellum is the largest part of the hind brain, which stands for “little brain” & a
structure of the CNS.
• Second largest part of the brain as a whole.
• Located in the posterior cranial fossa, behind the pones & medulla oblongata.
• Separated from the pones & medulla oblongata by a cavity of the fourth ventricle.
• It has an important role in motor control, with cerebellar dysfunction often presenting with
motor signs.
• The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain, immediately inferior to the occipital &
temporal lobes within the posterior cranial fossa.
• It is separated from these lobes by tentorium cerebelli, a tough layer of dura mater.
External features of cerebellum
2 cerebellar superior
3 parts
hemisphere 2 surface
vermis inferior
posteriolateral
anterior cerebellar
notch 3 well marked
2 notches
posterior cerebellar
fissure horizontal fissure
notch
fissura prima
Anatomical structure & divisions
• The cerebellum consists of two hemispheres which are connected by a vermis, a narrow
midline area like other structure in the CNS.
• It consists of grey & white matter.
Grey matter: located on the surface of the cerebellum. It is tightly folded, forming
the cerebellar cortex.
White matter: located underneath the cerebellar cortex. Embedded in the white
matter are the four cerebellar nuclei {the dentate, emboliform, globose & fastigial
nuclei}
, • There are three ways that the cerebellum can be subdivided; anatomical lobes, zones &
functional divisions.
Parts
• The cerebellum consists of two large lateral hemispherical lobes, the cerebellar hemispheres.
• The cerebellar hemisphere united to each other by a narrow median worn like portion, called
vermis.
• The superior & inferior aspects of the vermis are termed superior & inferior vermis
respectively.
Subdivision of vermis
i. Lingula
ii. Central lobule
iii. Culmen
iv. Declive
v. Folium
vi. Tuber
vii. Pyramid
viii. Uvula
ix. Nodule
Surfaces
• The superior surface of the cerebellum.
• The two cerebellar hemispheres are continuous with each other on this surface.
• The inferior surface present a deep median notch called vallecular which separates the two
cerebellar hemispheres.
Notches
• The anterior aspect of cerebellum is marked by a wide shallow anterior cerebellar notch
which accommodates pons & medulla.
• The posterior cerebellar notch is deep & narrow, & lodges the falx cerebelli.
Fissures
The horizontal fissure runs along lateral & posterior margins of the cerebellum. It
marks the junction between the superior & inferior surfaces of the cerebellum.
The V- shaped fissura prima on the superior surfaces cuts the superior vermis at the
junction of its anterior 2/3rd & posterior 1/3rd . It divides the corpus cerebelli into anterior &
posterior [middle] lobes.
• The cerebellum is the largest part of the hind brain, which stands for “little brain” & a
structure of the CNS.
• Second largest part of the brain as a whole.
• Located in the posterior cranial fossa, behind the pones & medulla oblongata.
• Separated from the pones & medulla oblongata by a cavity of the fourth ventricle.
• It has an important role in motor control, with cerebellar dysfunction often presenting with
motor signs.
• The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain, immediately inferior to the occipital &
temporal lobes within the posterior cranial fossa.
• It is separated from these lobes by tentorium cerebelli, a tough layer of dura mater.
External features of cerebellum
2 cerebellar superior
3 parts
hemisphere 2 surface
vermis inferior
posteriolateral
anterior cerebellar
notch 3 well marked
2 notches
posterior cerebellar
fissure horizontal fissure
notch
fissura prima
Anatomical structure & divisions
• The cerebellum consists of two hemispheres which are connected by a vermis, a narrow
midline area like other structure in the CNS.
• It consists of grey & white matter.
Grey matter: located on the surface of the cerebellum. It is tightly folded, forming
the cerebellar cortex.
White matter: located underneath the cerebellar cortex. Embedded in the white
matter are the four cerebellar nuclei {the dentate, emboliform, globose & fastigial
nuclei}
, • There are three ways that the cerebellum can be subdivided; anatomical lobes, zones &
functional divisions.
Parts
• The cerebellum consists of two large lateral hemispherical lobes, the cerebellar hemispheres.
• The cerebellar hemisphere united to each other by a narrow median worn like portion, called
vermis.
• The superior & inferior aspects of the vermis are termed superior & inferior vermis
respectively.
Subdivision of vermis
i. Lingula
ii. Central lobule
iii. Culmen
iv. Declive
v. Folium
vi. Tuber
vii. Pyramid
viii. Uvula
ix. Nodule
Surfaces
• The superior surface of the cerebellum.
• The two cerebellar hemispheres are continuous with each other on this surface.
• The inferior surface present a deep median notch called vallecular which separates the two
cerebellar hemispheres.
Notches
• The anterior aspect of cerebellum is marked by a wide shallow anterior cerebellar notch
which accommodates pons & medulla.
• The posterior cerebellar notch is deep & narrow, & lodges the falx cerebelli.
Fissures
The horizontal fissure runs along lateral & posterior margins of the cerebellum. It
marks the junction between the superior & inferior surfaces of the cerebellum.
The V- shaped fissura prima on the superior surfaces cuts the superior vermis at the
junction of its anterior 2/3rd & posterior 1/3rd . It divides the corpus cerebelli into anterior &
posterior [middle] lobes.
