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.

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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

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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.

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cerebellum Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• 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

See Examples For:

cerebellum cerebella cerebellums

When the cerebellum is disrupted, people can experience symptoms including painful muscle contractions, abnormal postures, and uncontrollable shaking.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 1, 2026

"Inside the cerebellum are special cells called Purkinje neurons," Tiwari-Woodruff said.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 6, 2026

The cerebellum plays a central role in this process.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 6, 2026

Over time, these symptoms often intensify as healthy tissue in the cerebellum is gradually lost.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 6, 2026

In the back and underneath are the cerebellum and the brain stem.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

A Heidelberg research team has now generated comprehensive genetic maps of the development of cells in the cerebella of human, mouse and opossum.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 29, 2023

Erasistratus and Herophilus explored the cerebella of fast-moving animals like deer and rabbits.

From New York Times ● Apr. 13, 2018

The researchers also found greater activity across broader areas of both cerebellums in the participants who continued practicing compared with those who stopped.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 13, 2026

They discovered that these patients suffered immediate changes to the white matter in two areas of their brains: Their frontal lobes, which help manage thoughts, and in their cerebellums, which take charge of motor control.

From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2023

For those who grew up with the fiery bun-headed teenager in 1977’s Star Wars, her youthful image is burned so deeply into our cerebellums that we can recall her countenance in an instant.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 6, 2017

Given the terrifyingly coordinated movements that “fast zombies” exhibit, it is our belief that their cerebellums are likely intact.

From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2014

"Ah! my lord king, we should not cut off the nervous communication between our eyes, and our cerebellums."

From Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. II by Melville, Herman

Related Words

• head
• intellect
• mind