olivary, a.
(ˈɒlɪvərɪ)
Also 6 olivare.
[ad. L. olīvāri-us of or pertaining to olives, f. olīva olive: see -ary. Cf. F. olivaire (14th c. in Godef. Compl.).]
Shaped like an olive. In specific applications:
a. Surg. Applied to a cautery or catheter with an oval head. b. Anat. olivary body, each of two oval prominences of nerve-matter, one on each side of the medulla oblongata. olivary eminence, (a) = prec.; (b) = next. olivary process, a prominence on the sphenoid bone, supporting the commissure of the optic nerves. Also applied to parts of or connected with the olivary body, as olivary nucleus, olivary peduncle.
| 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. P iij b, The seconde cautere is named Oliuare bicause it resembleth a kyrnell of Olyue. [1706 Phillips, Olivaria Corpora..two Protuberances or Knobs of the under part of the Brain.] 1831 R. Knox Cloquet's Anat. 420 The olivary eminences..are enveloped, like the rest of the spinal marrow, with a white external layer. 1837 Quain Elem. Anat. (ed. 4) 721 The olivary bodies are so called from their oval round form, like an olive. 1847 Todd & Bowman Phys. Anat. II. 104 It is not improbable that the true origin of each nerve is from the central part of the medulla oblongata, the olivary columns. 1892 Syd. Soc. Lex. O[livary] cautery. |