Pontocerebellar fibers
| Pontocerebellar fibers | |
|---|---|
Scheme showing the connections of the several parts of the brain. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | fibrae pontocerebellares |
| NeuroNames | 1345 |
| TA98 | A14.1.05.110 |
| TA2 | 5849 |
| FMA | 75215 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The pontocerebellar fibers are the second-order neuron fibers of the corticopontocerebellar tracts that cross to the other side of the pons and run within the middle cerebellar peduncles, from the pons to the contralateral cerebellum. They arise from the pontine nuclei as the second part of the corticopontocerebellar tract (the first part being the corticopontine fibers which synapse in the pontine nuclei), and decussate (cross-over) in the pons before passing through the middle cerebellar peduncles to reach and terminate in the contralateral posterior lobe of the cerebellum (neocerebellum). It is part of a pathway involved in the coordination of voluntary movements.
The middle cerebellar peduncle consists entirely of pontocerebellar fibers and is the largest pathway of the cerebellum.