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(2) From the periphery:
The cerebellum receives sensory signals directly from the peripheral parts (muscle spindle, skin
receptors…) of the body mainly through four tracts on each side, two of which are located dorsally in
the cord and two ventrally. The two most important tracts are:
When the information comes from the inferior (spinal cord, brain stem…), it goes to the cerebellum
by the inferior cerebellar peduncle. When the information comes from the brain, it goes to the
cerebellum by the superior cerebellar peduncle.
The dorsal spinocerebellar tract: it enters the cerebellum through the inferior cerebellar
peduncle and terminates in the vermis and intermediate zones of the cerebellum on the same
side as its origin.
The signals transmitted come mainly from the muscle spindle and from other somatic
receptors throughout the body (such as the Golgi tendon organs, large tactile
receptors…). These signals apprise the cerebellum second by second of the status of (1)
muscle contraction, (2) degree of tension on the muscle tendons, (3) position and rates
of movement of the parts of the body and (4) forces acting on the surfaces of the body.
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