superior olive - BrainInfo

superior olive (SOl)

The term superior olive refers to one of three components of the superior olivary complex. Identified by topology it is composed of the medial superior olivary nucleus and the lateral superior olivary nucleus ( Carpenter-1983 ). The other parts of the complex are the periolivary region and the trapezoid nucleus ( Amunts-2012 ). Functionally it is part of the subcortical auditory system ( Swanson-2004 ).

Also known as: superior olive, Oliva superior, superior olivary nuclei, superior olivary nucleus, Nucleus olivaris superioris, Nucleus olivaris superior, Nucleus olivaris rostralis, Nucleus olivaris metencephali, superior olivary complex (Schroeder van der Kolk)

NeuroNames ID: 570

All Names & Sources

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English

superior olivary complex (Schroeder van der Kolk)

Swanson-1998

English

superior olivary nuclei

Carpenter-1983

English

superior olivary nucleus

Szabo-1984

English

superior olive

Bowden-1997

English

superior olive

Carpenter-1983

English

superior olive

Martin-1997

Illustrations

Showing 4 illustration(s)

myelin stain & diagram of
all aspects in
human

labeled line drawings of
sagittal section in
Macaca fascicularis

multiple views of
3D reconstruction in
Macaca mulatta

photomicrograph of
coronal section in
primate

Species With The Structure

Equivalent By	Human	Macaque	Rat	Mouse
Topology	Has The Structure	Has The Structure	Has The Structure	Relevant Data Not Located

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Basis

Has Equivalent

Organism

Their Name

Source

Topology

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

Nucleus olivaris metencephali

Riley-1943

Topology

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

Nucleus olivaris rostralis

Nomina-1983

Topology

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

Nucleus olivaris superior

Shantha-1968

Topology

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

Nucleus olivaris superioris

Nomina-1983

Topology

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

Oliva superior

Riley-1943

Topology

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

superior olivary nuclei

Carpenter-1983

Topology

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

superior olive

Carpenter-1983

Topology

Yes

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

superior olivary nucleus

Szabo-1984

Topology

Yes

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

superior olive

Martin-1997

Topology

Yes

Rattus (rat)

superior olivary complex (Schroeder van der Kolk)

Swanson-1998

Topology

Yes

Rattus (rat)

superior olive

Bowden-1997

Models Where It Appears

Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

metabrain (metencephalon)

pons

pontine tegmentum

pontine reticular formation

superior olivary complex

superior olive

trapezoid nucleus (trapezoid nuclei)

facial nerve fibers