Arbor vitae (anatomy)

The arbor vitae /ˌɑːrbɔːr ˈvaɪtiː/ (Latin for "tree of life") is the cerebellar white matter, so called for its branched, tree-like appearance. In some ways it more resembles a fern and is present in both cerebellar hemispheres.^[1] It brings sensory and motor information to and from the cerebellum. The arbor vitae is located deep in the cerebellum. Situated within the arbor vitae are the deep cerebellar nuclei; the dentate, globose, emboliform and the fastigial nuclei. These four different structures lead to the efferent projections of the cerebellum.^[2]

Arbor vitae
Figure shows cerebellum and surrounding regions; sagittal view of one hemisphere. A: Midbrain. B: Pons. C: Medulla. D: Spinal cord. E: Fourth ventricle. F: Arbor vitae. G: Flocculus. H: Tonsil. I: Posterior lobe. J: Anterior lobe. K: Inferior colliculus. L: Superior colliculus.
Animation of the left half of the human brain. Arbor vitae is illustrated in white.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	arbor vitae cerebelli
NeuroNames	692
NeuroLex ID	nlx_anat_20090101
TA98	A14.1.07.401
TA2	5789
FMA	72541
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

Additional Images

• Dissection video (1 min 14 s). Describing the arbor vitae.
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  Midsagittal section of the brainstem.
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  Midsagittal section of the brainstem. Arbor vitae labelled at the center.
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  Midsagittal section of the brainstem.
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  Coronal section of the cerebellum.
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  Arbor vitae and cerebellar peduncles.