Deep Cerebellar Nuclei - Somatotopy

Somatotopy

In general, each pair of deep nuclei is associated with a corresponding region of cerebellar surface anatomy.

• The dentate nuclei are deep within the lateral hemispheres,
• the interposed nuclei are located in the paravermal (intermediate) zone,
• and the fastigial nuclei are in the vermis.

These structural relationships are generally maintained in the neuronal connections between the nuclei and associated cerebellar cortex,

• with the dentate nucleus receiving most of its connections from the lateral hemispheres,
• the interposed nuclei receiving inputs mostly from the paravermis,
• and the fastigial nucleus receiving primarily afferents from the vermis.