Olives of Medulla
The
olives of the medulla, also known as the olivary bodies, are located on the ventral surface of the
medulla oblongata of the brainstem, lateral to the
medullary pyramids.
The brainstem consists of the
medulla, the
pons and the
midbrain.
The olives contain the
inferior olivary nucleus (the
superior olivary nucleus is actually located in the pons). The olivary nucleus receives input from the motor and sensory cortices, and has important efferent connections with the cerebellum – these circuits are important in the control of movement.