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The cerebellum, containing half of the brain’s neurons, is primarily responsible for the coordination of movements, especially skilled voluntary ones, the control of posture and gait, and participation in the regulation of muscular tone. In addition, the cerebellum may play a role in the modulation of the emotional state and in special aspects of cognition. The mechanisms by which these functions are accomplished have been the subject of intense investigation by anatomists and physiologists for over 100 years. Their studies have yielded a mass of data, testimony to the complexity of the organization of the cerebellum and its afferent and efferent connections. A reasonably coherent picture of cerebellar function has emerged, and it is possible to relate certain of the symptoms and signs of cerebellar disease to discrete anatomic and functional units.
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Knowledge of cerebellar function has been derived mainly from the study of natural and experimental ablative lesions and to a lesser extent from stimulation of the cerebellum, which actually produces little in the way of alteration of movement. None of the motor activities of the cerebellum reaches conscious kinesthetic perception; its main role is instead to modulate willed movements. A fuller account of cerebellar anatomy, physiology, and functioning can be found in monographs and early writings on the subject (Jansen and Brodal, of Gilman, Thach and colleagues) and modern atlases, (Schmahmann and colleagues).
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ANATOMIC AND PHYSIOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS
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Early studies of the comparative anatomy and fiber connections of the cerebellum led to its subdivision into three parts (Fig. 5–1 and Table 5–1): (1) The flocculonodular lobe, located inferiorly, is phylogenetically the oldest (hence its former designation as archicerebellum). It is separated from the main mass of the cerebellum, the cerebellar hemispheres, by the posterior fissure. (2) The anterior lobe, or paleocerebellum, which is the portion rostral to the primary fissure. In lower animals, the anterior lobe constitutes most of the cerebellum, but in humans it is relatively small, consisting of the anterosuperior vermis and the contiguous paravermian cortex. (3) The posterior lobe, or neocerebellum, consisting of the middle divisions of the vermis and their large lateral extensions. The major portion of the cerebellum, the cerebellar hemispheres, falls into this subdivision.
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