What is "dentate nucleus"

n. a large laminar nucleus of gray matter within the white matter of each cerebral hemisphere

The dentate nucleus is a cluster of neurons, or nerve cells, in the central nervous system that has a dentate – tooth-like or serrated – edge. It located within the deep white matter of each cerebellar hemisphere, and it is the largest single structure linking the cerebellum to the rest of the brain. It is the largest and most lateral, or farthest from the midline, of the four pairs of deep cerebellar nuclei, the others being the fastigial nucleus and the globose and emboliform nuclei which together are referred to as the interposed nucleus. The dentate nucleus is responsible for the planning, initiation and control of voluntary movements. The dorsal (towards the back of the body) region of the dentate nucleus contains output channels involved in motor function, which is the movement of skeletal muscle, while the ventral (towards the belly or front of the body) region contains output channels involved in nonmotor function, such as conscious thought and visuospatial function.