Definition of "cerebellum" [cer•e•bel•lum]

• The trilobed structure of the brain, lying posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata and inferior to the occipital lobes of the cerebral hemispheres, that is responsible for the regulation and coordination of complex voluntary muscular movement as well as the maintenance of posture and balance. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The Purkinje cell of the cerebellum is used as an example to illustrate the revelatory power of the Golgi stain, and why it was and still is important."
• "The cerebellum is the rear, lower part of the brain that controls signals from the muscles to coordinate balance and motor learning."
• "Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease the cerebellum is damaged."