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Lingula of cerebellum

The Lingula of the cerebellum is a small, thin, tongue-shaped portion of the cerebellar vermis located at its most superior and anterior aspect. It forms the first (anterior-most) lobule of the superior vermis, lying just in front of the central lobule and directly above the superior medullary velum. The lingula plays a role in fine motor coordination and is involved in the cerebellum’s regulatory influence over balance and movement.

Synonyms

  • Lingula cerebelli

  • Lingula of the superior vermis

  • Lobule I of the vermis

Anatomical Location

  • Situated at the anterior and superior tip of the cerebellar vermis

  • Lies directly superior to the superior medullary velum

  • Anterior to the central lobule (Lobule II)

Arterial Supply

  • Supplied primarily by branches of the superior cerebellar artery (SCA)

  • Small contributions may come from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)

Venous Drainage

  • Drained mainly by the superior cerebellar veins

  • These veins empty into the straight sinus or adjacent venous sinuses

Function

  • Involved in the modulation and coordination of voluntary motor activity

  • Contributes to balance and postural control via its connections within the cerebellar vermis

  • Plays a minor role in ocular and head movements due to its midline position

MRI Appearance

  • Appears as a thin, leaf-like structure at the most anterior and superior aspect of the cerebellar vermis

  • Best visualized in mid-sagittal T1- and T2-weighted images as a small, hyperintense strip above the superior medullary velum

  • Difficult to distinguish in cases of severe atrophy or congenital malformations

CT Appearance

  • Usually not distinctly visualized due to its small size and the limited soft tissue contrast of CT

  • May be faintly seen as a thin, isodense structure at the superior aspect of the vermis, anterior to the fourth ventricle

  • More easily identified on CT with adjacent anatomical landmarks in mind, though much less detailed compared to MRI

MRI images

Lingula of cerebellum [I] MRI 3T coronal image

MRI images

Lingula of cerebellum [I] MRI 3T sagittal image

CT image

Lingula of cerebellum CT sag anatomy image -img-00001-00001