Spinocerebellum

The spinocerebellum is a critical neural pathway that transmits important information from the spinal cord to the cerebellum, playing a vital role in the precise coordination and refinement of motor movements. 

The vermis and paravermal areas of the cerebellum are specifically dedicated to processing the information conveyed by the spinocerebellar tracts. Globose and emboliform nuclei are associated with the spinocerebellum, which involves three types of tracts: the dorsal spinocerebellar, ventral spinocerebellar, and cuneocerebellar tracts. 

The fibers of the dorsal spinocerebellar tract enter the spinal cord through the dorsal horn and synapse with second-order neurons. These fibers then proceed to the lateral column, ascend through the medulla, and ultimately reach the cerebellum via the inferior cerebellar peduncle. 

The cuneocerebellar tract carries proprioceptive information from the upper body to the cerebellum through the inferior cerebellar peduncle. It originates in the accessory cuneate nucleus in the medulla oblongata and terminates in the cerebellar cortex. This pathway is crucial for coordinating and refining the movements of the upper limbs and trunk. 

The ventral spinocerebellar tract begins in the spinal cord, where its second-order neurons are located. This pathway is notable for its first crossover at the spinal cord level. After this initial decussation, the tract ascends to the midbrain and then enters the cerebellum via the superior cerebellar peduncle, where it undergoes a second crossover. This tract primarily conveys motor signals originating from the anterior horn while receiving limited input from peripheral receptors. These receptors are influenced by the corticospinal and rubrospinal tracts, as well as by internal motor patterns generated within the spinal cord. This feedback mechanism is known as the ‘efference copy’.