White matter in the cerebellum is characterized by which feature?

White matter in the cerebellum is characterized by which feature?

• A. Dense neuronal cell bodies
• B. Predominantly myelinated axon tracts with few cell bodies
• C. High density of dendritic spines
• D. Mostly Purkinje neurons

Answer: (B)

White matter in the cerebellum is defined by its content of myelinated axon tracts that connect different parts of the brain and cerebellum. The myelin gives white matter its pale appearance and speeds up communication, so the tissue is rich in axons rather than neuronal cell bodies. In contrast, the neuron cell bodies are largely found in gray matter, such as the cerebellar cortex where Purkinje and granule cells reside. While Purkinje neurons have axons that extend through white matter to reach deep cerebellar nuclei, the hallmark feature of white matter is the abundance of myelinated axons with relatively few cell bodies. So the statement describing predominantly myelinated axon tracts with few cell bodies best fits the white matter of the cerebellum.

White matter in the cerebellum is defined by its content of myelinated axon tracts that connect different parts of the brain and cerebellum. The myelin gives white matter its pale appearance and speeds up communication, so the tissue is rich in axons rather than neuronal cell bodies. In contrast, the neuron cell bodies are largely found in gray matter, such as the cerebellar cortex where Purkinje and granule cells reside. While Purkinje neurons have axons that extend through white matter to reach deep cerebellar nuclei, the hallmark feature of white matter is the abundance of myelinated axons with relatively few cell bodies. So the statement describing predominantly myelinated axon tracts with few cell bodies best fits the white matter of the cerebellum.