Contents:
- Where is the cerebellum?
- Function of the cerebellum
- Control movement
- Maintain balance and posture
- Learn new movements
- Regulate eyeball movements
- What are the consequences if the cerebellum is disrupted?
- Maintain the health of the cerebellum
Do you know how big the human brain is? The weight of an adult human brain averages around 1.4 kilograms while its length is around 15 centimeters. Equivalent to the size of two adult fists. Big enough, right? But even though it looks like a solid unit, the brain consists of several supporting parts. One part of the brain that has a very important role is the cerebellum, aka the cerebellum. What are the functions?
Where is the cerebellum?
The small brain (cerebellum) is located behind the head, under the cerebrum. Try to hold the back of your head. The small brain is precisely at the top of the neck of the neck.
Interestingly, even though it was dubbed the cerebellum, the cerebellum turned out to be quite large when stretched. Almost the entire volume of the cerebellum consists of "knitting" a very very thin layer of gray matter, called folium.
When the roll of folium is decomposed open, you will get a layer of neural network 1 meter long and 5 centimeters thick. The total surface area can reach 500 square meters.
Function of the cerebellum
The cerebellum is very small and dense. It only accounts for 10% of the total brain volume, but it is home to more than 50% of the total number of neurons present in the brain. This makes the cerebellum the part of the brain that works the fastest.
Control movement
True movement is a complicated process. There are many muscles and nerves involved in doing one simple motion. For example, walking, running, throwing a ball.
Well, the main role of the cerebellum is movement control (motor control). The cerebellum does not initiate or make movements, but supports the function of coordinating limbs, the accuracy of their movements, and accurate motion time. The Cerebellum ensures that the body really moves according to what is requested.
The cerebellum will receive signals from the main sensor center in the spine and other parts of the brain, then process these signals to perfect the body's motor activity.
Maintain balance and posture
The Cerebellum has a special sensor for detecting balance. The cerebellum will send a signal to the body to adjust the movement so that it doesn't fall.
Simply put, without a small brain you can't possibly maintain a balance when sitting, walking, or standing.
So when the cerebellum is disrupted, for example due to drinking large amounts of alcohol, you will find it more difficult to regulate your movements and maintain your body balance.
Learn new movements
Cerebellum helps the body to learn movements that require repetitive practice and special techniques. For example, riding a bicycle, throwing a basketball into the ring, or swimming.
At first, you certainly can't immediately, right? It takes a process to experiment with the movement until it is finally perfect. The process of perfecting this movement is the role of the cerebellum.
The Cerebellum will save the trial process that has been done before, to then give instructions for the limbs that need to be moved according to the memory.
With this process you have better movement control for a particular maneuver.
Regulate eyeball movements
Not only is the function of the limbs regulated by the cerebellum, your eyeball moves too.
Behind the eyeball there are lots of driving muscles that can make you glance right and left and up and down. All the muscles and nerves in the eyeball are regulated by the cerebellum so that the movements are exactly what they want.
What are the consequences if the cerebellum is disrupted?
The main function of the cerebellum is regulating movement. That is why damage or disruption in the cerebellum will produce disorders in smooth movements, balance, posture, and motor learning. You become unsteady or fall easily, the movements slow down, tremble / tremor, and even paralysis.
In addition to regulating movement, the cerebellum is also more or less involved in several cognitive functions such as attention and language focus and regulates fear and pleasure responses.
Then other symptoms or signs that can occur when the cerebellum is disrupted are:
- Lack of muscle control and coordination.
- Difficulty walking and moving places.
- Slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
- Abnormal eye movements.
- Headache.
There are many causes of cerebellar disorders:
- Ataxia
- Brain hemorrhage
- The blow of a blunt object.
- Poisoning
- Infection
- Cancer
Maintain the health of the cerebellum
- Protect head. When driving or in a situation that requires a helmet, use it correctly to reduce the risk of injury to the cerebellum.
- Quit smoking. Cigarettes increase the risk of stroke by thickening the blood and increasing blood pressure
- Limit alcohol use. Drinking large portions of liquor will directly damage the cerebellum.
- Exercise: Regular exercise can launch brain blood vessels and reduce the risk of stroke.
