nerve cord
noun
1
: the pair of closely united ventral longitudinal nerves with their segmental ganglia that is characteristic of many elongate invertebrates (such as earthworms)
2
: the dorsal tubular cord of nervous tissue above the notochord of a chordate that comprises or develops into the central nervous system
Examples of nerve cord in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists recently identified the animal’s nerve cord by using a topsy-turvy twist.
—
Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 24 June 2024
The researchers traced the nerve cords with a powerful microscope and found that one type—the cords closest to the suckers—not only ran the length of an arm but also extended down another arm two arms away.
—Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2023
Magnification of ventral nerve cord of Chengjiangocaris kunmingensis.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
Each of the five specimens had a ventral nerve cord, the invertebrate version of a spinal cord.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
The nerve cord is a chain of nerve cell clusters called ganglia, linked by the long arms of neurites.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
The Stanleycaris nerve cord is completely non ganglionated.
—Jason P. Dinh, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2022
Our closest non-vertebrate relatives re-established a nerve cord (on the wrong side of the body, naturally) but couldn't be bothered with niceties like a skeleton.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022
So, the presence of cartilage suggests that, even at this early stage of their evolution, vertebrates probably had a distinct nerve cord that produced a neural crest—something that our close relatives like the amphioxus doesn't have.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022
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Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 24 June 2024
The researchers traced the nerve cords with a powerful microscope and found that one type—the cords closest to the suckers—not only ran the length of an arm but also extended down another arm two arms away.
—Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2023
Magnification of ventral nerve cord of Chengjiangocaris kunmingensis.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
Each of the five specimens had a ventral nerve cord, the invertebrate version of a spinal cord.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
The nerve cord is a chain of nerve cell clusters called ganglia, linked by the long arms of neurites.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
The Stanleycaris nerve cord is completely non ganglionated.
—Jason P. Dinh, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2022
Our closest non-vertebrate relatives re-established a nerve cord (on the wrong side of the body, naturally) but couldn't be bothered with niceties like a skeleton.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022
So, the presence of cartilage suggests that, even at this early stage of their evolution, vertebrates probably had a distinct nerve cord that produced a neural crest—something that our close relatives like the amphioxus doesn't have.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022
Cite this Entry
“Nerve cord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerve%20cord. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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