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Cerebellum

Definition

The cerebellum is a part of the brain located at the back of the skull. It's responsible for coordinating and regulating muscular activity, particularly fine motor skills, balance, and coordination.

Analogy

Think of the cerebellum as a conductor in an orchestra. Just like how a conductor coordinates all the musicians to play in harmony, the cerebellum coordinates our muscles to ensure smooth and precise movements.

Related terms

Motor Cortex: This is part of the cerebral cortex involved in planning, control, and execution of voluntary movements.

Proprioception: This is our sense or perception of the positions and movements of our body parts without looking at them.

Ataxia: A neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements that can include gait abnormality, speech changes, and abnormalities in eye movements.



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.