Cerebellothalamic tract
Encyclopedia
Also known as the dentatothalamic tract or the tractus cerebellothalamicus, is part of the superior cerebellar peduncle. It originates in the cerebellar nuclei, crosses completely in the decussation
of the brachium conjunctivum, bypasses the red nucleus
, and terminates in parts of the ventral anterior nucleus
, ventral intermediate, ventral posterolateral nucleus
, and central lateral nuclei of the thalamus.
It is mostly separated from the pallidothalamic tracts.
It can play a role in mediating symptoms in hereditary dystonia
.
The term "cerebellothalamocortical pathway" is used to indicate termination in the cerebral cortex
.
Decussation
Decussation is used in biological contexts to describe a crossing.Examples include:* In the brain, where nerve fibers obliquely cross from one lateral part to the other, that is to say they cross at a level other than their origin...
of the brachium conjunctivum, bypasses the red nucleus
Red nucleus
The red nucleus is a structure in the rostral midbrain involved in motor coordination. It comprises a caudal magnocellular and a rostral parvocellular part.-Function:...
, and terminates in parts of the ventral anterior nucleus
Ventral anterior nucleus
-Inputs and outputs:The ventral anterior nucleus receives neuronal inputs from the basal ganglia which includes the substantia nigra and the globus pallidus. It also has inputs from the cerebellum. It sends out neuronal input to the supplementary motor cortex and to primary motor...
, ventral intermediate, ventral posterolateral nucleus
Ventral posterolateral nucleus
The ventral posterolateral nucleus is a nucleus of the thalamus. Together with the ventral posteromedial nucleus , VPI and VMpo, it constitutes the ventral posterior nucleus.-Input and output:...
, and central lateral nuclei of the thalamus.
It is mostly separated from the pallidothalamic tracts.
It can play a role in mediating symptoms in hereditary dystonia
Dystonia
Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder, in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The disorder may be hereditary or caused by other factors such as birth-related or other physical trauma, infection, poisoning or reaction to...
.
The term "cerebellothalamocortical pathway" is used to indicate termination in the cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a sheet of neural tissue that is outermost to the cerebrum of the mammalian brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It is constituted of up to six horizontal layers, each of which has a different...
.