Q.Describe the role of the cerebellum in coordinating body movements and maintaining posture and balance.

[!TLDR] The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements, maintains muscle tone, and maintains posture and balance, using feedback from muscles, joints and the inner ear. [!ANSWER] Cerebellum: coord …

The cerebellum, the second largest part of the human brain, sits behind the pons and medulla and is connected to the brainstem by fibre bundles called peduncles. It does not initiate movement itself, but is essential for coordinating voluntary movements so that they are smooth and accurate, for maintaining muscle tone, and for maintaining posture and balance. It achieves this by continuously comparing the movement intended by the motor cortex with the movement actually being carried out, using feedback from the muscles and joints (proprioception) and from the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear, and adjusting ongoing motor output accordingly. Damage to the cerebellum typically produces jerky, poorly c …

Distinguish the cerebellum's role (coordination/balance, using feedback) from the cerebrum's role (i …

Do not say the cerebellum 'initiates' voluntary movement — that is the role of the cerebral motor cortex; the …