superior cerebellar peduncle (brachium conjunctivum)

Origin

• fibers originate from the dentate nucleus & interpositus nucleus & emerge from the cerebellum in the rostral direction, along the lateral wall of the 4th ventricle.
• the bundle submerges from the dorsal surface of the brainstem into the mesencephalic tegmentum, where most of the fibers cross the midline

Afferents

• the most superior of the 3 large paired bundles carrying nerve fibers from the cerebellum (output of cerebellum).

Efferents

• part of the bundle terminates in the contralateral red nucleus
• the majority of fibers continue rostrally to the thalamus
  • thalamic nuclei receiving cerebellar fibers via the superior cerebellar peduncle include:
    • ventral intermediate nucleus
    • ventral posterolateral nucleus
    • central lateral nucleus

More general terms

• cerebellar peduncle