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Thevestibulocerebellum Helps Coordinate Balance and Eye Movements

The vestibulocerebellum occupies the flocculonodular lobe and receives most of its afferent input from the vestibular system (Figures 12-5 and 12-6). Its efferent output returns to the vestibular nuclei, either directly from cerebellar cortex or by way of the deep cerebellar nuclei (specifically the fastigial nucleus).

The cerebellar output to the vestibular nuclei helps to coordinate the axial and proximal muscles controlling bal­ance, through the vestibulospinal tract, and helps to coordinate head and eye movements through the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF; see Chapter 11). In short, the vestibulo­cerebellum adjusts the coordination of vestibular reflexes. Because this part of the cerebellum was the first to appear in vertebrate evolution, it is sometimes called the archi­cerebellum.

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Source: Cunningham J.G., Klein B.G.. Textbook of Veterinary Physiology. Elsevier Health Sciences,2007. — 720 ð.. 2007

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