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CNS-Anatomy: 10# Cerebellum
1. The uvulo-nodular fissure separates which two cerebellar lobes?
Anterior and middle lobes
Anterior and flocculonodular lobes
Middle (posterior) and flocculonodular lobes
Superior and inferior surfaces
Explanation:
The deep uvulo-nodular (posterolateral) fissure separates the middle (posterior) lobe from the flocculonodular lobe.
2. Which cerebellar fissure has NO morphological or functional significance?
Primary fissure
Horizontal fissure
Uvulo-nodular fissure
Posterolateral fissure
Explanation:
The horizontal fissure only separates superior from inferior surfaces and has no morphological or functional importance.
3. Which cerebellar cortical layer gives rise to parallel fibers?
Granular layer
Purkinje cell layer
Molecular layer
White matter
Explanation:
Axons of granular cells ascend to the molecular layer and bifurcate into T-shaped parallel fibers.
4. Which statement regarding Purkinje cells is CORRECT?
They are excitatory output neurons
They terminate mainly in the molecular layer
They receive mossy fibers directly
They provide inhibitory output to deep nuclei
Explanation:
Purkinje cells are inhibitory (GABAergic) and project mainly to deep cerebellar nuclei.
5. Each Purkinje cell receives synaptic input from how many climbing fibers?
Multiple climbing fibers
Only one climbing fiber
One mossy fiber
Multiple mossy fibers
Explanation:
Each Purkinje neuron is contacted by only one climbing fiber, making it a very powerful synapse.
6. Which deep cerebellar nucleus receives efferents from the vermis?
Fastigial nucleus
Dentate nucleus
Globose nucleus
Emboliform nucleus
Explanation:
Purkinje cells of the vermis project to the fastigial nucleus.
7. Which cerebellar cortical zone is responsible for planning sequential movements?
Vermis
Flocculonodular lobe
Intermediate zone
Lateral hemisphere
Explanation:
The lateral cerebellar hemisphere is involved in planning and error assessment of movements.
8. Which cerebellar afferent fibers enter through the inferior cerebellar peduncle?
Anterior spinocerebellar
Corticopontocerebellar
Posterior spinocerebellar
Dentatothalamic
Explanation:
Posterior spinocerebellar fibers enter ipsilaterally via the inferior cerebellar peduncle.
9. Which tract conveys unconscious proprioception from the upper limb?
Cuneocerebellar tract
Anterior spinocerebellar tract
Posterior spinocerebellar tract
Vestibulocerebellar tract
Explanation:
The cuneocerebellar tract carries unconscious proprioception from the upper limb and upper thorax.
10. The anterior spinocerebellar tract enters the cerebellum via which peduncle?
Inferior
Superior
Middle
All peduncles
Explanation:
Anterior spinocerebellar fibers enter the cerebellum through the superior cerebellar peduncle.
11. Which deep cerebellar nucleus is the largest and most lateral?
Fastigial
Globose
Emboliform
Dentate
Explanation:
The dentate nucleus is the largest and most laterally placed cerebellar nucleus.
12. Which pathway facilitates ipsilateral extensor muscle tone?
Fastigial vestibular pathway
Dentatothalamic pathway
Globose-emboliform-rubral pathway
Corticopontocerebellar pathway
Explanation:
The fastigial nucleus influences extensor tone via vestibulospinal tracts.
13. A lesion of the flocculonodular lobe causes:
Intention tremor
Dysdiadochokinesia
Truncal ataxia
Limb hypotonia
Explanation:
Flocculonodular lobe lesions produce truncal ataxia with a wide-based gait.
14. Which cerebellar lobe lesion is classically associated with chronic alcoholism?
Flocculonodular lobe
Anterior lobe
Posterior lobe
Vermis
Explanation:
Anterior lobe degeneration causes gait ataxia, commonly seen in chronic alcoholism.
15. Dysdiadochokinesia is best described as:
Overshooting movements
Shaking at rest
Loss of muscle tone
Inability to perform rapid alternating movements
Explanation:
Dysdiadochokinesia is the inability to perform rapid alternating movements smoothly.
16. Which cerebellar output pathway ends in the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus?
Dentatothalamic pathway
Fastigial vestibular pathway
Rubrospinal pathway
Reticulospinal pathway
Explanation:
Dentate nucleus projects via the superior cerebellar peduncle to the ventrolateral thalamus.
17. Which fibers are the strongest excitatory input to Purkinje cells?
Parallel fibers
Vestibular fibers
Climbing fibers
Reticular fibers
Explanation:
Climbing fibers form powerful one-to-one synapses with Purkinje cells.
18. Which peduncle carries pontocerebellar fibers?
Superior
Middle
Inferior
All peduncles
Explanation:
Transverse pontine fibers enter the cerebellum through the middle cerebellar peduncle.
19. Which cerebellar function best describes its role as a comparator?
Initiating movement
Producing muscle tone
Generating reflexes
Comparing intended vs actual movement
Explanation:
The cerebellum compares cortical motor plans with proprioceptive feedback to fine-tune movement.
20. A patient with intention tremor most likely has a lesion in which lobe?
Anterior lobe
Flocculonodular lobe
Posterior (middle) lobe
Vermis
Explanation:
Limb syndrome with intention tremor is caused by posterior (middle) lobe lesions.