Dentate nucleus

The Dentate nucleus is located within the deep white matter of each cerebellar hemisphere. It is the largest of the four deep cerebellar nuclei, the others being the fastigial nucleus and the interposed nucleus (globose and emboliform nuclei combined). It is responsible for the planning, initiation and control of volitional movements. It therefore receives its afferents from the premotor cortex and the supplementary motor cortex (via the pontocerebellar system). Its efferents project via the superior cerebellar peduncle to the contralateral red nucleus and ventrolateral thalamus (crossing over at the pontomesencephalic junction).

It consists of an irregularly folded lamina, of a grayish-yellow color, containing white fibers, and presenting on its antero-medial aspect an opening, the hilus, from which most of the fibers of the superior peduncle emerge.