Arbor vitae (anatomy)

The arbor vitae /ˌɑːrbɔːr ˈvaɪtiː/ (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

• aplab - BioWeb at University of Wisconsin System
• Stained brain slice images which include the "Cerebellum" at the BrainMaps project

Additional Images

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  Arbor vitae

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. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. 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