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Medical Definition of Oliva superior
1. A circumscript, bipartite cell group located ventrolaterally in the lower pontine tegmentum, immediately dorsal to the trapezoid body; the nucleus receives fibres from both the ipsilateral and contralateral cochlear nuclei, and contributes fibres to the lateral (auditory) lemniscus of both sides. It is believed to be prominently involved in the function of spatial localization of sound. Synonym: nucleus dorsalis corporis trapezoidei, oliva superior, superior olivary nucleus, superior olive. (05 Mar 2000)