The flocculonodular lobe (

vestibulocerebellum The anatomy of the cerebellum can be viewed at three levels. At the level of gross anatomy, the cerebellum consists of a tightly folded and crumpled layer of cortex, with white matter underneath, several deep nuclei embedded in the white matter ...

) is a lobe of the

cerebellum The cerebellum (Latin for "little brain") is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as or even larger. In humans, the cerebe ...

consisting of the nodule and the

flocculus The flocculus (Latin: ''tuft of wool'', diminutive) is a small lobe of the cerebellum at the posterior border of the middle cerebellar peduncle anterior to the biventer lobule. Like other parts of the cerebellum, the flocculus is involved in moto ...

. The two flocculi are connected to the midline structure called the nodulus by thin pedicles. It is placed on the anteroinferior surface of cerebellum. This region of the cerebellum has important connections to the

vestibular nuclei The vestibular nuclei (VN) are the cranial nuclei for the vestibular nerve located in the brainstem. In Terminologia Anatomica they are grouped in both the pons and the medulla in the brainstem. Structure Path The fibers of the vestibular n ...

and uses information about head movement to influence eye movement. Lesions to this area can result in multiple deficits in visual tracking and oculomotor control (such as nystagmus and vertigo), integration of vestibular information for eye and head control, as well as control of axial muscles for balance. This lobe is also involved in the maintenance of balance equilibrium and muscle tone. The most common cause of damage to the flocculonodular lobe is medulloblastoma in childhood.

References

External links

NIF Search - Flocculonodular lobe
via the Neuroscience Information Framework {{Authority control Cerebellum