Identify the name of the anatomical structure indicated by the blue arrow in the image below:
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Options:
explanation: The image shows an axial section through the medulla oblongata, with the anterior surface on the inferior aspect of the image and the posterior surface on the superior aspect of the image. The middle cerebellar peduncles are white matter fibre bundles located on the posterior aspect of the pons and connecting the pons to the cerebellum. They are not visible in the image because the pons is located more superiorly compared to this axial section through the medulla oblongata. However, the blue arrow points to the inferior olive, which is a grey matter nucleus located within the olive, a swelling found bilaterally on the anterior aspect of the medulla oblongata, lateral to the pyramids.
name: Middle cerebellar peduncle
label: e
answer: no
explanation: The image shows an axial section through the medulla oblongata, with the anterior surface on the inferior aspect of the image and the posterior surface on the superior aspect of the image. The inferior cerebellar peduncle is a white matter bundle of fibres which connects the medulla oblongata with the cerebellum. It is located on the posterolateral aspect of the medulla, bilaterally, and can be seen towards the top of the image. However, the blue arrow points to the inferior olive, which is a grey matter nucleus located within the olive, a swelling found bilaterally on the anterior aspect of the medulla oblongata, lateral to the pyramids.
name: Inferior cerebellar peduncle
label: c
answer: no
explanation: The image shows an axial section through the medulla oblongata, with the anterior surface on the inferior aspect of the image and the posterior surface on the superior aspect of the image. The superior olive is a grey matter nucleus located in the inferior aspect of the pons (not visible in this image, as the pons is not represented). It is a relay nucleus on the hearing pathway which receives afferents from both the left and the right sides (binaural convergence). However, the blue arrow points to the inferior olive, which is a grey matter nucleus located within the olive, a swelling found bilaterally on the anterior aspect of the medulla oblongata, lateral to the pyramids.
name: Superior olive
label: b
answer: no
explanation: The image shows an axial section through the medulla oblongata, with the anterior surface on the inferior aspect of the image and the posterior surface on the superior aspect of the image. The blue arrow points to the inferior olive, which is a grey matter nucleus located within the olive, a swelling found bilaterally on the anterior aspect of the medulla oblongata, laterally to the pyramids. The olive is delineated anteriorly by the ventrolateral sulcus and posteriorly by the posterolateral sulcus.
name: Inferior olive
label: a
answer: yes
explanation: The image shows an axial section through the medulla oblongata, with the anterior surface on the inferior aspect of the image and the posterior surface on the superior aspect of the image. The pyramids are two paired swellings located on the anterior surface of the medulla oblongata, lateral to the anterior median fissure and medial to the ventrolateral sulcus and the olives. They are the regions where the fibres of the pyramidal tracts pass when descending from the primary motor cortex to the spinal cord. However, the blue arrow points to the inferior olive, which is a grey matter nucleus located within the olive, a swelling found bilaterally on the anterior aspect of the medulla oblongata, lateral to the pyramids.
name: Pyramid
label: d
answer: no

Correct answer: a