Granular layer (cerebellum)

The granular layer is the innermost layer of the cerebellar cortex. The cerebellar cortex (gray matter) is composed of three layers: molecular layer, purkinje cells and granular layer, respectively from outermost to innermost. The cerebellum is mainly responsible for managing the coordination of skeletal muscles and body movements.

The neurons of the granular layer are very small with estimated diameter of only 4-5 µm. These cells are among the smallest cells in the body. The cells of granular layer are densely packed together (in contrast with the cells of molecular layer which are sparse).

References

Junqueira's Basic Histology Text and Atlas, 13th Edition, P174 & P161

Nervous system

Central nervous system

Peripheral nervous system

Somatic	Sensory nerve Motor nerve Cranial nerve Spinal nerve

Autonomic	Sympathetic Parasympathetic Enteric

Anatomy of the cerebellum

Surface

Lobes	Anterior lobe Posterior lobe Horizontal fissure Flocculonodular lobe Flocculus Nodule Primary fissure

Medial/lateral	Vermis: anterior Central lobule Culmen Lingula posterior Folium Tuber Uvula Vallecula of cerebellum Hemisphere: anterior Alar central lobule posterior Biventer lobule Cerebellar tonsil

Grey matter

Deep cerebellar nuclei	Dentate interposed Emboliform Globose Fastigial

Cerebellar cortex	Molecular layer Stellate cell Basket cell Purkinje cell layer Purkinje cell Bergmann glia cell = Golgi epithelial cell Granule cell layer Golgi cell Granule cell Unipolar brush cell Fibers: Mossy fibers Climbing fiber Parallel fiber

White matter

Internal	Arbor vitae

Peduncles	Inferior (medulla): Dorsal spinocerebellar tract Olivocerebellar tract Cuneocerebellar tract Juxtarestiform body (Vestibulocerebellar tract) Trigeminocerebellar fibers Middle (pons): Pontocerebellar fibers Superior (midbrain): Ventral spinocerebellar tract Dentatothalamic tract

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