Point
6
Intro
While many questions remain regarding the function(s) of
the inferior olive, selective destruction of this nuclear
complex in experimental animals has acute effects similar to
those following destruction of the entire one-half of the
CONTRALATERAL cerebellum. Since the inferior olive
sends information to the contralateral cerebellum,
and the cerebellum influences the SAME side of the
body, then the loss of the LEFT olive will mean that
the RIGHT half of the cerebellum is no longer
receiving input from the inferior olive. This will result in
incoordination of the RIGHT side of the body. Since
we will cover cerebellum later in this course, don't worry
too much about it right now. We have already discussed that
cerebellar deficits involve incoordination and are
IPSILATERAL to the side of the lesion. A lesion of the inferior olive will result
in incoordination of the CONTRALATERAL ARM AND
LEG (contrast this with a lesion of
ACC. CUNEATE
NUC. = incoordination of
IPSI ARM).