Difference Between Cerebellum and Cerebrum: Structure and Functions

What Are the Cerebrum and Cerebellum?

The cerebellum and cerebrum are parts of the brain differentiated in terms of structure and functions. While the cerebrum takes charge of higher cognitive functions and sensory processing, the cerebellum is in charge of coordinating movement and balance.

Structure and Location

The structure and location are described below-

Cerebrum

• The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum occupies the uppermost region of the cranial cavity.

• It is divided into two hemispheres.

• There are four lobes of cerebrum namely frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.

Cerebellum

• The cerebellum is at the lower back of the brain behind the occipital lobes of the cerebrum.

• The organ has a distinctive appearance with an extremely folded surface like the cerebrum though smaller.

Difference Between Cerebellum And Cerebrum

Some of the major differences between the cerebrum and cerebellum are discussed in the table below:

Injuries to the Human Brain

The brain is a crucial organ that coordinates and regulates essential bodily functions, cognitive processes, emotions, and sensory processing. Damage to the brain therefore affects general health and ability.

Brain injuries are generally of two types: traumatic and non-traumatic. Traumatic injury is caused by extrinsic forces such as falls, car accidents, athletic injuries, assaults, and explosions which damage the human brain.

Differences from non-traumatic injuries are that other than stroke, most injuries that affect the head can be caused by infectious causes, such as infections caused by encephalitis, brain haemorrhage, cancer, and certain neurodegenerative disorders linked with the misfolded proteins. Such injuries can cause disorganization in normal brain activity, which leads to huge impairments in movement, cognition, or vital processes.

The cause may be primary or secondary but the damage and its consequences are entirely dependent on the extent of damage, the area in the brain that is involved, and the cause in itself, usually requiring special medical intervention to manage the effects and minimize them.

Cerebrum vs Cerebellum NEET MCQs (With Answers & Explanations)

Important questions asked in NEET from this topic are:

• Components of limbic system

• Functions of the Limbic system

Practice Questions for NEET

Q1. Which part of the brain is responsible for thermoregulation?

1. Cerebrum

2. Hypothalamus

3. Corpus callosum

4. Medulla oblongata

Correct answer: 2) Hypothalamus

Explanation:

The hypothalamus contains several centres which control body temperature, and urge for eating and drinking. It also contains several groups of neurosecretory cells, which secrete hormones called hypothalamic hormones. The hypothalamus is the part of the brain involved in thermoregulation. The cerebrum is involved in interpreting touch, vision, hearing, speech, reasoning movement, etc. The Corpus callosum joins two hemispheres of the cerebrum. Medulla oblongata helps regulate breathing, heart function, digestion, etc.

Hence the correct answer is option 4)Hypothalamus.

Q2. Injury localized to the hypothalamus would most likely disrupt:

1. Short-term memory.

2. Coordination during locomotion.

3. Executive function, such as decision-making.

4. Regulation of body temperature.

Correct answer: 4) Regulation of body temperature.

Explanation:

A very important part of the brain called the hypothalamus lies at the base of the thalamus. The hypothalamus contains several centres which control body temperature, and urge for eating and drinking. It also contains several groups of neurosecretory cells, which secrete hormones called hypothalamic hormones.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4)Regulation of body temperature.

Q3. The grey matter of cerebellum exhibits tree-like structure called

1. Arbor vitae

2. Purkinje cells

3. Basket cells

4. Granule cells

Correct answer: 1) Arbor vitae

Explanation:

Three layers of cells and fibres make up the grey matter that surrounds the cerebellum. Arbor vitae are tree-like structures found in the cerebellar grey matter. Characteristically big flask-shaped Purkinje cells are found in the intermediate layer. Granule cells, basket cells, and Golgi cells are also found in the cerebellum. Therefore, the grey matter of the cerebellum exhibits a tree-like structure called arbour vitae.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) Arbor vitae.

Also Read:

• MCQs on Cerebrum

• Synapse

• Sympathetic Nervous System

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