part of part_of part of part_of superior olivary complex A a collection of brainstem nuclei that functions in multiple aspects of hearing and is an important component of the ascending and descending auditory pathways of the auditory system. BAMS:SOC DHBA:12462 EMAPA:35840 EV:0100263 FMA:72247 HBA:9177 In mice, the superior olivary nucleus is a small cylindrical mass on the dorsal surface of the lateral part of the trapezoid body of the pons, and it is situated immediately above the inferior olivary nucleus. It receives projections from the cochlear nucleus and thus is involved in the perception of sound[GO:0021718] MA:0001026 MBA:398 The SOC displays a significant interspecies variation, being largest in bats and rodents and smaller in primates. UBERON:0002128 UMLS:C0175427 VHOG:0001381 http://braininfo.rprc.washington.edu/centraldirectory.aspx?ID=569 nucleus olivaris superior regio olivaris superioris superior olivary nuclei superior olivary nucleus superior olivary nucleus (Barr & Kiernan) superior olive uberon pontine tegmentum nuclear complex of neuraxis auditory system gray matter of hindbrain