The olivary nucleus is a group of nuclei located in the brainstem, specifically in the medulla oblongata. There are two main olivary nuclei: the inferior olivary nucleus and the superior olivary nucleus.
The inferior olivary nucleus is the larger of the two and is located in the rostral medulla, just dorsal to the pyramid of the medulla oblongata. It is a highly organized structure, consisting of multiple sub nuclei, each of which has a unique set of connections and functions. The inferior olivary nucleus is involved in motor coordination and learning, and it provides direct input to the cerebellum through climbing fibers.
The superior olivary nucleus is located in the caudal pons, just dorsal to the facial colliculus. It is also a complex structure, consisting of multiple subnuclei, each of which has a unique set of connections and functions. The superior olivary nucleus is involved in the processing of sound localization and the generation of binaural hearing.
Both the inferior and superior olivary nuclei have a characteristic olive-like shape, which is where their name comes from. They are composed of gray matter, which contains the cell bodies of neurons, as well as white matter, which contains the axons of neurons. The neurons within the olivary nuclei are highly interconnected and form complex networks that are involved in a variety of important functions in the brainstem.
