Layers of the Cerebellar Cortex

Layers of the Cerebellar Cortex:

1. Molecular Layer:
   • Outermost layer.
   • Contains stellate cells and basket cells.
   • Functions:
     • Receive excitatory input from parallel fibers.
     • Form inhibitory synapses on Purkinje cells.
   • Appearance:
     • Pale appearance in H&E staining due to many myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers.
2. Purkinje Layer:
   • Middle layer.
   • Contains flask-shaped cell bodies of Purkinje cells.
   • Dendrites extend into the molecular layer.
   • Axons pass through the granular layer into the white matter and synapse with cerebellar nuclei.
3. Granular Layer:
   • Innermost layer.
   • Contains cell bodies of granule cells and Golgi cells.
   • Functions:
     • Receives excitatory input from mossy fibers.
     • Forms glomeruli with dendrites of granule cells.
     • Granule cells give rise to parallel fibers, the only excitatory neurons in the cerebellar cortex.
   • Golgi cells:
     • Receive input from parallel fibers and mossy fibers.
     • Send inhibitory output to granule cells.