Flocculonodular lobe

Afferents Afferents of the lobe are the vestibulocerebellar fibers arising from either the vestibular nuclei or the vestibular nerve/ganglion directly. • Vestibular organs → vestibular nerve/vestibular ganglion first-order fibers (→ vestibular nuclei (synapse) → second-order fibers) → juxtarestiform body of inferior cerebellar peduncle → (ipsilateral) flocculonodular lobe of cerebellum (synapse/termination of vestibulocerebellar fibers) Efferents Efferents of the lobe are the cerebellovestibular fibers which project to the vestibular nuclei. • Purkinje cells of flocculonodular lobe → juxtarestiform body of inferior cerebellar peduncle → vestibular nuclei (synapse/termination of cerebellovestibular fibers) → • Medial and lateral vestibulospinal tracts (extrapyramidal upper motor neurons) → (synapse) lower motor neurons → skeletal muscle • Medial longitudinal fasciculi → nuclei of cranial nerves III/IV/VI (synapse) → cranial nerves III/IV/VI → extrinsic eye muscles == Clinical significance ==

Lesions to this area can result in multiple deficits in visual tracking and oculomotor control (such as nystagmus and vertigo), integration of vestibular information for eye and head control, as well as control of axial muscles for balance. The most common cause of damage to the flocculonodular lobe is medulloblastoma in childhood. ==References==