Granule cell layer

Granule cell layer is a layer of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that plays a significant role in motor control. It is one of the three layers that make up the cerebellar cortex and is primarily composed of granule cells, the most abundant type of neuron in the brain.

Structure

The granule cell layer is the innermost layer of the cerebellar cortex. It is located beneath the Purkinje cell layer and above the white matter of the cerebellum. This layer is densely packed with granule cells, which are small neurons with a characteristic conical or triangular shape.

Function

The primary function of the granule cell layer is to receive and process information from the mossy fibers, which are axons that carry sensory and motor information to the cerebellum from other parts of the brain and spinal cord. The granule cells then relay this information to the Purkinje cells, which are the primary output neurons of the cerebellum.

Clinical significance

Damage or disease affecting the granule cell layer can lead to a variety of neurological disorders. For example, medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer, often originates in the granule cell layer. Additionally, some forms of ataxia, a neurological condition characterized by lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, are associated with degeneration of the granule cell layer.

See also

• Cerebellum
• Granule cell
• Purkinje cell
• Mossy fiber