Download - 1/10 cerebellum
The Cerebellum
Bianca Ching CN 02
Kristin Te CN 24
Cerebellum – part of the brain, located under the cerebrum, towards the back, behind the brainstem and above the brainstem.
largely involved in "coordination”; persons whose cerebellum doesn't work well are generally clumsy and unsteady
Functions
Main Motor Functions :
1) Coordination
2)Speed and smoothness of movements
3)Walking or gait
The cerebellum consists of two halves called cerebellar hemispheres. Each controls one side of the body. Between the hemispheres is a thin central part (vermis) that controls our trunk (posterior vermis) and legs (anterior vermis).
Cerebellar Dysfunction
Incoordination (ataxia)
Inability to walk
Instability of the trunk (titubation)
Slurred speech (dysarthria)
Two Distinguishable Cerebellar Syndrome
Midline
Hemispheric
Midline
Midline syndromes are characterized by imbalance. Persons are unsteady, unable to stand in Romberg with eyes open or closed, and are unable to well perform tandem gait.
Two Distinguishable Cerebellar Syndrome
Midline Disturbances
causes "trunkal ataxia" a syndrome where a person is unable to sit on their bed without steadying themselves
often affect eye movements; there may be nystagmus, ocular dysmetria and poor pursuit.
Two Distinguishable Cerebellar Syndrome
Hemispheric
characterized by incoordination of the limbs, there may be decomposition of movement, dysmetria, and rebound, dysdiadochokinesis is the irregular performance of rapid alternating movements.
Two Distinguishable Cerebellar Syndrome
Hemispheric
Intention tremors may be present on an attempt to touch an object. A kinetic tremor may be present in motion.
The finger-to-nose and heel-to-knee tests are classic tests of hemispheric cerebellar dysfunction. While reflexes may be depressed initially with hemispheric cerebellar syndromes, this cannot be counted on.
Speech may be dysarthric, scanning, or have irregular emphasis on syllables.
Two Distinguishable Cerebellar Syndrome
Sources of Cerebellar Injuries
1. Toxins (ethanol, chemotherapy, anticonvulsants, ethanol).
2. Autoantibodies (paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration )
3. Structural lesions (strokes, MS, tumors, etc)Inherited cerebellar degenerations
The diagnosis of a cerebellar disorder is usually made by a neurologist, and is usually straightforward. MRI scanning often shows shrinkage of part or all of the cerebellum although this is not always the case. Blood tests for specific conditions are now commonly used when there is a family tendency towards these types of symptoms.
Ataxia Ataxia comes from the Greek a taxia, meaning
literally "no order". It is a blanket term referring to a loss of ability to control one's muscles. Ataxia has a number of causes and a number of treatments.
What is Ataxia?
Ataxia can be broken into two distinct groups: sporadic and hereditary. Hereditary ataxia can usually be traced to a family history, and can be linked to twenty-two gene mutations. These mutations are labeled “ spinocerebellar ataxia type 1" through 22 in shorthand referred to simply as SCA1-22. Sporadic ataxia is a form of ataxia which is not linked to a genetic defect.
Ataxia
Kinds of Ataxia Hereditary ataxia can be separated into
types caused by a metabolic defect.
They are inherited from a defective gene, and the identification of these genes continues at an encouraging pace.
Hereditary Ataxia
Hereditary Ataxia
Some of the many types of hereditary ataxia include:
Machado-Joseph disease
ataxia with opthalmoplegia, spinopontineatrophy
ataxia with etinopathy
slow-eye movement ataxia
Kinds of Ataxia
Sporadic Ataxia
Sporadic ataxia is very difficult to diagnose, and often doctors will struggle as they rule out every possibility of hereditary ataxia before making a final diagnosis.
Some of the many terms used to describe sporadic ataxia are: spastic ataxia, Menzel's ataxia, Marie's ataxia, Holmes'ataxia, sporadic atrophy, and most commonly sporadic OPCA, or sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy.
Kinds of Ataxia
a disturbance of body equilibrium in standing or walking, resulting in an uncertain gait and trembling, especially resulting from diseases of the cerebellum.
What is Titubation?
Titubation
Causes of Titubation
The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Titubation. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.
1. Space-occupying lesions
2. Cerebellar Lesions
3. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
4. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease
Titubation
Causes of Titubation
5. West Syndrome (Infantile Spasms)
6. Rett Syndrome
7. Guillain-Barre Syndrome
8. Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA)
9. Cerebrospinal Fluid
10. Meningitis
11. Complications of HIV Infection
Titubation
What is Dysarthria?
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder. The muscles of the mouth, face, and respiratory system may become weak, move slowly, or not move at all after a stroke or other brain injury. The type and severity of dysarthria depend on which area of the nervous system is affected.
Dysarthria
Causes of Dysarthria
Some causes of dysarthria include stroke, head injury, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. Both children and adults can have dysarthria.
Dysarthria
Symptoms of Dysarthria
"Slurred" speech
Speaking softly or barely able to whisper
Slow rate of speech
Rapid rate of speech with a "mumbling" quality
Limited tongue, lip, and jaw movement
Drooling or poor control of saliva
Dysarthria
Abnormal intonation (rhythm) when speaking
Changes in vocal quality ("nasal" speech or sounding "stuffy")
Hoarseness
Breathiness
Chewing and swallowing difficulty
Dysarthria
Symptoms of Dysarthria
That’s Up! :)
P.S. If you are currently experiencing those symptoms, please see your physician!:)
Health is Wealth!