The upper part of the posterior district of the
medulla oblongata is occupied by the 'inferior peduncle', a thick rope-like strand situated between the lower part of the
fourth ventricle and the roots of the
glossopharyngeal and
vagus nerves.
The inferior peduncles connect the
medulla spinalis and medulla oblongata with the
cerebellum, and are sometimes named the 'restiform bodies'.
Function
The inferior cerebellar peduncle carries many types of input and output fibers that are mainly concerned with integrating
proprioceptive sensory input with motor
vestibular functions such as
balance and
posture maintenance.
Proprioceptive information from the body is carried to the
cerebellum via the
posterior spinocerebellar tract.
This tract passes through the inferior cerebellar peduncle and synapses within the paleocerebellum.
Vestibular information projects onto the archicerebellum.
This peduncle also carries information directly from the
Purkinje cells to the vestibular nuclei in the dorsal
brainstem located at the junction between the
pons and
medulla.
See also
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Superior cerebellar peduncles
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Middle cerebellar peduncles
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Cerebral peduncle
Additional images
External links
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See also
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Cerebellum