What it means
The "little brain" sits behind the brainstem. It does not start movements but makes them smooth and accurate, keeps balance and helps learn motor skills. Damage from stroke, injury, tumors or alcohol causes an unsteady, wide-based walk (ataxia), clumsy movements, tremor when reaching and slurred speech.
For the nurse
Test coordination with finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin tests, and watch the client's walk. Protect clients with poor balance from falls.
Remember it
Cerebellum keeps balance; cerebrum does the thinking.
At a glance
| Spanish | cerebelo |
|---|---|
| Also written | cerebellar |
Easy to confuse with
cerebrum
The largest part of the brain, made of two halves, that handles thinking, memory, language, sensation and voluntary movement.
Related terms
central nervous system
The brain and the spinal cord together.
cerebral cortex
The thin, folded outer layer of the cerebrum, where thinking, language, memory, voluntary movement and sensation are handled.
cerebrum
The largest part of the brain, made of two halves, that handles thinking, memory, language, sensation and voluntary movement.