dentate nucleus of cerebellum

Definition: the most lateral and largest of the cerebellar nuclei; it receives the axons of Purkinje cells from the lateral area of the cerebellar cortex (so-called neocerebellum) and input via collaterals of cerebellar afferent fibers en route to the overlying cerebellar cortex; together with the more medially located globosus and emboliform nuclei, it is the major source of fibers composing the massive superior cerebellar peduncle or brachium conjunctivum.

Synonym(s): nucleus dentatusTA, nucleus lateralis cerebelli, corpus dentatum, dentatum

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