Cerebellum - divisions and zones (schematic) (English)

Afferent connections of the cerebellar cortex can be described according to three regions:- the spinocerebellum (receives somatosensory input from the spinal cord) which functions to modify descending motor commands in order to regulate movement, maintain balance, and control posture,- the pontocerebellum (a.k.a. cerebrocerebellum, receives afferent fibers from the cerebrum via the pontine nuclei) which is thought to be involved in the planning and initiation of voluntary movements,- the vestibulocerebellum (receives vestibular and visual information) which is responsible for regulation of balance/vestibular reflexes and eye movements. Efferent, or corticonuclear, connections can be described according to four bilateral longitudinal zones: medial (vermal), intermediate (paravermal), lateral and flocculonodular. Each zone projects to either one of the cerebellar nuclei (discussed in the next study unit) or the vestibular nuclei in the brainstem. The medial zone is subdivided into two zones, A and B. The intermediate is subdivided into three zones (C1, C2, C3), while the lateral zone is also known as zone D.