Neuroanatomy: cerebellum: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Neuroanatomy: cerebellum

Sample item

A child with a midline cerebellar medulloblastoma has truncal ataxia and cannot sit without support, while limb coordination is relatively preserved. Which deep cerebellar nucleus receives output from the vermis and is most affected?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Fastigial nucleus

From lateral to medial, the deep nuclei are dentate, emboliform, globose and fastigial. The vermis projects to the fastigial nucleus, the most medial, which influences axial and proximal muscles through vestibulospinal and reticulospinal tracts; lesions give truncal ataxia. The lateral hemisphere projects to the dentate, causing limb dysmetria and intention tremor.

Option by option

  • A. Fastigial nucleus (correct)

    Correct. The fastigial nucleus serves the vermis and controls truncal balance.

  • B. Emboliform nucleus

    The emboliform nucleus belongs to the interposed pair for the paravermis and distal limb control.

  • C. Globose nucleus

    The globose nucleus is also interposed, serving the paravermal region and limb tone.

  • D. Dentate nucleus

    The dentate nucleus is lateral and receives the lateral hemisphere, giving limb ataxia.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Fastigial nucleus. From lateral to medial, the deep nuclei are dentate, emboliform, globose and fastigial.

Why is "Emboliform nucleus" not the answer?

The emboliform nucleus belongs to the interposed pair for the paravermis and distal limb control.

Why is "Globose nucleus" not the answer?

The globose nucleus is also interposed, serving the paravermal region and limb tone.

Why is "Dentate nucleus" not the answer?

The dentate nucleus is lateral and receives the lateral hemisphere, giving limb ataxia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy: cerebellum in Anatomy. The vermis projects to the fastigial nucleus, the most medial, which influences axial and proximal muscles through vestibulospinal and reticulospinal tracts; lesions give truncal ataxia. The lateral hemisphere projects to the dentate, causing limb dysmetria and intention tremor.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Neuroanatomy: cerebellum?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.