The molecular layer mainly contains which structures?

The molecular layer mainly contains which structures?

• A. Purkinje cell bodies
• B. Myelinated axon tracts
• C. Dendrites of Purkinje cells and interneurons
• D. Granule cell bodies

Answer: (C)

Dendrites of Purkinje cells and interneurons are found predominantly in the molecular layer. This outer cerebellar cortex layer hosts the expansive dendritic arbors of Purkinje cells as well as the dendrites of inhibitory interneurons (like basket and stellate cells), with granule cell parallel fibers running through as their axons pass across this region. Purkinje cell bodies sit in the middle layer named after them, and granule cell bodies are located in the deeper granule cell layer, so those options describe structures not mainly in the molecular layer.

Dendrites of Purkinje cells and interneurons are found predominantly in the molecular layer. This outer cerebellar cortex layer hosts the expansive dendritic arbors of Purkinje cells as well as the dendrites of inhibitory interneurons (like basket and stellate cells), with granule cell parallel fibers running through as their axons pass across this region. Purkinje cell bodies sit in the middle layer named after them, and granule cell bodies are located in the deeper granule cell layer, so those options describe structures not mainly in the molecular layer.