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Cerebrum vs Cerebellum- Compare and contrast form and function

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The Cerebrum and the Cerebelum

The cerebrum (Fore-brain/front of brain), and the cerebelum (little brain) are the two largest structures in the brain. The largest been Cerebrum composing of right and left hemispheres. Weighing about 1300g, about 85% of brain ‘s weight and about 2% of the human’s body weight.

The cerebrum performs higher functions like reasoning, vision, emotions, learning, It also performs functions like interpreting touch, hearing , speech  and fine control of movements.

Cerebrum is located inside the bony cranium extending from the frontal bone anteriorly to the posterior occipial bone. It is located in the anterior and middle cranial fossae, located above the tentorium cerebelli in the inferior-posterior boarder. It is divided into four lobes, each handling a specific segment of the cerebrum’s jobs. These are: frontal, tempoal, parietal and occipital lobes.

In contrast, the cerebellum, reffered to as the little brain with adult weight of about 150g, about 12% of brain’s weight and about 0.2% of the human weight.

The cerebellum is responsible for cordinating voluntary movements. Also responsible for motor skills such as balance, cordination, and posture.

It is a major structure of the hindbrain, located near the brainstem, which acts as a relay center connecting the cerebrum and cerebelum to the spinal cord.

It is found at the back of the brain underlying the occipital and temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex. It is separated into three lobes: flocculonodular, anterior and posterior lobes.

Clinical implcations:

Clinically, damage to the cerebrum will depend on which side is damaged and the effect of crossing over due to decussation of the various tracts. Damage to the left hemisphere especiaaly due to stroke will result in left hemispheric stroke, causing right sided weakness or paralysis and sensory impairment. Aphasia, and visual problems including inability to see the right visual field of each eye, may also occur.

Clinically, damage to the cerebellum results in Asynergia, Dysmetria, Adiadochokinesia, Intention tremors and Ataxic gait.

Summary:

The cerebral and the cerebellum are related, at least they are both brain structures, sharing some similarities and impotant differences resulting in clinically distinguishable presentation from damages occuring in each of them.

References:

1. Cerebellum: Anatomy and Organization, Richard Hawkes. The University of Calgary, Canada.

2.Cerebrum: Assoc Prof Craig Hacking and Dr. Jeremy Jones et al.

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