The medulla oblongata is an enlarged continuation of the spinal cord extending up into the pons (a large bulge under the brain stem). On each side of the medulla oblongata is an oval swelling, called the olive, from which a large bundle of nerve fibers arises and passes up into the cerebellum. Because of its location, all ascending and descending nerve fibers connecting the brain to the spinal cordmycontentbreak must pass through it.