Granule Cells (Tiny Balance Brain Cells)

Tiny and everywhere

At the back of your brain, near the bottom, is a wrinkly part called the cerebellum. It means "little brain".

The cerebellum is packed with granule cells. Each one has a tiny round body and a few short arms with little claw-like ends.

Each granule cell sends one long wire straight up. At the top, the wire splits in two, like the letter T. The two branches stretch out sideways a long way.

Smooth moves

Granule cells get messages about what your body is doing, like where your arms and legs are. They pass these messages up their T-shaped wires to big cells called Purkinje cells.

The Purkinje cells use all that information to fine-tune your movements. Together they help you keep your balance, move smoothly, and get better at new skills with practice.

Granule cell quiz