Arbor vitae (anatomy)

Arbor vitae

Figure shows Cerebellum and surrounding regions; sagittal view of one hemisphere. A: Midbrain. B: Pons. C: Medulla. D: Spinal cord. E: Fourth ventricle. F: Arbor vitae (in pink). G: Tonsil. H: Anterior lobe. I: Posterior lobe.

Sagittal section of the cerebellum, near the junction of the vermis with the hemisphere. ("arbor vitae" visible as white space to left, but not labelled.)
Details
Latin arbor vitae cerebelli
Identifiers
Gray's p.791
NeuroNames hier-689
NeuroLex ID Arbor Vitae
Dorlands
/Elsevier
a_56/12149382
TA A14.1.07.401
FMA 72541
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The arbor vitae /ˌɑrbɔr ˈvt/ (Latin for "Tree of Life") is the cerebellar white matter, so called for its branched, tree-like appearance. In some ways it more resembles a fern and is present in both cerebellar hemispheres.[1] It brings sensory and motor information to and from the cerebellum. The arbor vitae is located deep in the cerebellum. Situated within the arbor vitae are the deep cerebellar nuclei; the dentate, globose, emboliform and the fastigial nuclei. These four different structures lead to the efferent projections of the cerebellum.[2]

The arbor vitae is subject to pathologies such as a cerebellar hemorrhage. Cerebellar hemorrhages arise from tumors, trauma and arteriovenous malformations among other things.[3] The cells in the arbor vitae could also be infected by pathogens which might cause lasting damage, this in turn could lead to cerebellar ataxia.[4]

Related

Godfrey Blount's 1899 book Arbor Vitae was ‘a book on the nature and development of imaginative design for the use of teachers and craftsmen’.[5]

External links

Additional Images

References

  1. Saladin, Keneth (2012). Anatomy and Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. p. 526. ISBN 978-0-07-337825-1.
  2. Sodicoff, Marvin. "Cerebellum: Anatomy". Neuroanatomy Lab Resource Appendices. Temple University. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  3. Huff, Stephen. "Pathophysiology". Cerebellar Hemorrhage. Medscape. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  4. "Ataxia-causes". NHS Choices. British Government. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  5. Blount, Arbor Vitae, 1899