US Medical Term · anatomy
Cerebellum
Cerebelo
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Cerebellum |
| Spanish (Español) | Cerebelo |
| Chinese (中文) | 小腦 |
| Korean (한국어) | 소뇌 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tiểu não |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Serebelo |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cerebelo |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | สมองน้อย |
| Japanese (日本語) | 小脳 |
What it means
The cerebellum is a compact, rounded part of the brain located at the lower back of your head, just above the brainstem. Though it is much smaller than the cerebrum, it plays a critical role in coordinating movement, balance, and fine motor control. It helps you walk in a straight line, write clearly, and reach for objects accurately. The cerebellum receives signals from your muscles, joints, and inner ear and constantly fine-tunes your movements. Damage or disease affecting the cerebellum can cause clumsiness, unsteady walking (called ataxia), slurred speech, and difficulty with precise hand movements. Strokes, tumors, and alcohol can all affect it.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My doctor said my balance problems might be related to my cerebellum.
Mi doctor dijo que mis problemas de equilibrio podrían estar relacionados con el cerebelo.
I keep stumbling when I walk — could my cerebellum be affected?
Sigo tropezando al caminar — ¿podría estar afectado mi cerebelo?
The MRI showed a small lesion in my cerebellum.
La resonancia magnética mostró una pequeña lesión en el cerebelo.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026