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.