The upper part of the posterior district of the medulla oblongata

Medulla oblongata

The medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. In discussions of neurology and similar contexts where no ambiguity will result, it is often referred to as simply the medulla...

 is occupied by the inferior cerebellar peduncle (restiform body), a thick rope-like strand situated between the lower part of the fourth ventricle

Fourth ventricle

The fourth ventricle is one of the four connected fluid-filled cavities within the human brain. These cavities, known collectively as the ventricular system, consist of the left and right lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle...

 and the roots of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve

Vagus nerve

The vagus nerve , also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves...

s.

Each cerebellar inferior peduncle connects the medulla spinalis and medulla oblongata with the cerebellum

Cerebellum

The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...

, and comprises the juxtarestiform body

Juxtarestiform body

The juxtarestiform body is a subdivision of the inferior cerebellar peduncle, which comprises both the juxtarestiform and restiform bodies.-Function:...

 and restiform body.

Important fibers running through the inferior cerebellar peduncle include the spinocerebellar tract

Spinocerebellar tract

The spinocerebellar tract is a set of axonal fibers originating in the spinal cord and terminating in the ipsilateral cerebellum. This tract conveys information to the cerebellum about limb and joint position ....

 and axons from the inferior olivary nucleus

Inferior olivary nucleus

The inferior olivary nucleus is the largest nucleus situated in the olivary body, part of the medulla oblongata.-Function:It is closely associated with the cerebellum, meaning that it is involved in control and coordination of movements, sensory processing and cognitive tasks likely by encoding the...

, among others.

Function

The inferior cerebellar peduncle carries many types of input and output fibers that are mainly concerned with integrating proprioceptive sensory input with motor vestibular

Vestibular

The Vestibular is a competitive examination and is the primary and widespread system used by Brazilian universities to select their students. The Vestibular usually takes place from November to January, right before the start of school year in February or March, although certain universities hold...

 functions such as balance

Balance (ability)

In biomechanics, balance is an ability to maintain the center of gravity of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway. When exercising the ability to balance, one is said to be balancing....

 and posture

Neutral spine

A neutral spine or good posture refers to the "three natural curves [that] are present in a healthy spine."- Posture :The word "posture" comes from the Latin verb "ponere" which is defined as "to put or place." The general concept of human posture refers to "the carriage of the body as a whole, the...

 maintenance.

Proprioceptive information from the body is carried to the cerebellum

Cerebellum

The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...

 via the posterior spinocerebellar tract.

This tract passes through the inferior cerebellar peduncle and synapses within the spinocerebellum (also known as the paleocerebellum).

Vestibular information projects onto the vestibulocerebellum (also known as the archicerebellum).

This peduncle also carries information directly from the Purkinje cells to the vestibular nuclei in the dorsal brainstem located at the junction between the pons

Pons

The pons is a structure located on the brain stem, named after the Latin word for "bridge" or the 16th-century Italian anatomist and surgeon Costanzo Varolio . It is superior to the medulla oblongata, inferior to the midbrain, and ventral to the cerebellum. In humans and other bipeds this means it...

 and medulla oblongata

Medulla oblongata

The medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. In discussions of neurology and similar contexts where no ambiguity will result, it is often referred to as simply the medulla...

.

See also

• Superior cerebellar peduncles
  Superior cerebellar peduncles
  The superior cerebellar peduncles , two in number, emerge from the upper and medial part of the white substance of the hemispheres and are placed under cover of the upper part of the cerebellum....
  
  
• Middle cerebellar peduncles
  Middle cerebellar peduncles
  The middle cerebellar peduncles are composed entirely of centripetal fibers, which arise from the cells of the nuclei pontis of the opposite side and end in the cerebellar cortex; the fibers are arranged in three fasciculi, superior, inferior, and deep.* The superior fasciculus, the most...
  
  
• Cerebral peduncle
  Cerebral peduncle
  Mainly, the three common areas that give rise to the cerebral peduncles are the cortex, the spinal cord and the cerebellum. The cerebral peduncle, by most classifications, is everything in the mesencephalon except the tectum. The region includes the midbrain tegmentum, crus cerebri and pretectum...
  
  
• Juxtarestiform body
  Juxtarestiform body
  The juxtarestiform body is a subdivision of the inferior cerebellar peduncle, which comprises both the juxtarestiform and restiform bodies.-Function:...
  
  

External links