Human Anatomy & Physiology (9th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321743261
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-326-8

Chapter 12 - The Central Nervous System - Review Questions - Page 481: 19

Answer

The cerebellum receives input from the cerebral motor cortex, from brain stem nuclei, and from sensory receptors, It is one of the roles of the cerebellum to integrate all these inputs and monitor skeletal muscle activity so that it is precise, coordinated and economical. 1. The cerebral motor cortex alerts the cerebellum when it is about to initiate a skeletal muscle activity. This message travels by way of the relay nuclei in the brain stem. 2. At the same time inputs from proprioceptors --about muscle tendon and joint position plus stimuli from the visual equilibrium pathway make the cerebellum aware of the position of the body and of the direction of proposed movement. The cerebellum makes a plan of action and transmit to the cerebral motor cortex by way of the superior cerebellar peduncles. Information is also sent to the brain stem nuclei which influence activity of the spinal motor neurons., After these transmissions the cerebrum composes its request tor skeletal muscle response. It is the role of the cerebellum to monitor and modulate the skeletal muscle response to the cerebrum's indicated request. By adjusting and and correcting and elimination of the inappropriate the cerebellum effects the precise activity required . These activities of the cerebellum facilitate most of the muscular activities of daily living . They enable us to grasp , use cutlery (utensils), play a guitar, type, and drive motor vehicls with skill and precision.

Work Step by Step

One of the roles of the cerebellum is to cooperate with the cerebral motor cortex so that requests for skeletal muscular activities can be precisely tailored to to achieve the exact response requested by the cerebrum To carry out this function the cerebellum receives and sends messages to and from the cerebrum , visual and equilibrium receptors, proprioceptors, and spinal motor neurons. When the cerebral motor cortex decides upon a skeletal muscle activity it informs the cerebellum by way of the brain stem relay nuclei. It is the job of the cerebellum to formulate a plan of action and transmit to the cerebrum . In order to do this the cerebellum must know where and how the relevant parts of the body are situated in space. It gets its information from the following sources : a. proprioceptors which inform about tendon tension and positions of joints. b. information from the visual equilibrium pathway ; this informs about where the body is and its direction of movement.. Based on this information the cerebellum formulates a plan for achieving the cerebrums request and this is transmitted via the superior cerebellar peduncles to the cerebral motor cortex. The cerebellum also sends messages to the brain stem nuclei and thus is able to influence the activities of spinal motor neurons. After the cerebral motor cortex has composed and transmitted its final request it is the role of the cerebellum to monitor and adjust skeletal muscle responses so that smooth, skillful. precise movements result without wasteful or inappropriate components.
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