cerebellum

American  

[ser-uh-bel-uhm] / ˌsɛr əˈbɛl əm /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

cerebellums, plural cerebella plural

1. a large portion of the brain, serving to coordinate voluntary movements, posture, and balance in humans, being in back of and below the cerebrum and consisting of two lateral lobes and a central lobe.

---

cerebellum British  

/ ˌsɛrɪˈbɛləm /

noun

1. one of the major divisions of the vertebrate brain, situated in man above the medulla oblongata and beneath the cerebrum, whose function is coordination of voluntary movements and maintenance of bodily equilibrium

---

cerebellum Scientific  

/ sĕr′ə-bĕl′əm /

cerebellums plural

1. The part of the vertebrate brain that is located below the cerebrum at the rear of the skull and that coordinates balance and muscle activity. In mammals, the cerebellum is made up of two connecting hemispheres that consist of a core of white matter surrounded by gray matter.

---

cerebellum Cultural  

1. The part of the brain that helps control muscle coordination.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precerebellar
  adjective
• cerebellar
  adjective
• supercerebellar
  adjective
• subcerebellar
  adjective
• postcerebellar
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• cerebella
  plural
• cerebellums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cerebellum

1555–65; < Latin: brain, diminutive of cerebrum; see cerebrum; for formation, see castellum

Compare meaning

How does cerebellum compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cerebrum vs. cerebellum

Explanation

If you’re a professional juggler, you can thank your cerebellum for your great coordination. The cerebellum is the part of your brain that handles motor control. The word cerebellum entered English in the 16th century from the Latin word of the same name, meaning "little brain." The cerebellum is located at the base of the brain, near the back of your head. It looks like a separate structure stuck onto the rest of your brain — so in a sense, it’s like a “little brain.” In addition to motor control, the cerebellum is responsible for balance and muscle tone.

Example Sentences

Figure 16.15 Major Regions of the Cerebellum The cerebellum can be divided into two basic regions: the midline and the hemispheres.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Figure 13.13 The Cerebellum The cerebellum is situated on the posterior surface of the brain stem.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The Cerebellum, Little Brain, or After Brain occupies the inferior pair of occipital fossae, and lies below the plane of the tentorium cerebelli.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various

The Scull being opened, both the Cerebrum and Cerebellum were bigg in proportion to the Body; and out of it run much more Bloud, than was seen in both the other Regions together.

From Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society - Vol 1 - 1666 Giving some Accompt of the present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours of the Ingenious in many considerable parts of the World by Oldenburg, Henry

The Vertebral Artery in entring into the Skull, furnisheth it on each side with a considerable Branch, which is dispers'd throughout the whole Portion of the Dura Mater that covers the Cerebellum.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel

Related Words

• head
• intellect
• mind