Page 354 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

The cerebellum (1, 10) consists of an outer gray matter or cortex (1, 10)

and an inner white matter (5, 8). Three distinct cell layers are distinguished in
the cerebellar cortex (1, 10): an outer molecular layer (2) with few and small
neuronal cell bodies and fibers that extend parallel to the length of the folium, a
central or middle Purkinje cell layer (3), and an inner granular layer (4) with
small neurons that exhibit stained nuclei. The Purkinje cells (3) are pyriform, or

pyramidal, in shape with ramified dendrites that extend into the molecular layer
(2).

The white matter (5, 8) forms the core of each cerebellar folium (6) and
consists of myelinated nerve fibers, or axons. The axons are the afferent and

efferent fibers of the cerebellar cortex.

FIGURE 9.13 ■ Cerebellum (transverse section). Stain: silver impregnation

(Cajal method). Low magnification.

FIGURE 9.14 | Cerebellar Cortex: Molecular

Layer, Purkinje Cell Layer, and Granular Cell

Layer

This illustration shows a small section of the cerebellar cortex above the white
matter at a higher magnification. The Purkinje cells (3) form the Purkinje cell
layer (7), with their prominent nuclei and nucleoli, and are arranged in a single
row between the molecular cell layer (6) and the granular cell layer (4). The
large “flask-shaped” bodies of the Purkinje cells (3, 7) exhibit thick dendrites

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