neural crest
noun
: the ridge of one of the folds forming the neural tube that gives rise to the spinal ganglia and various structures of the autonomic nervous system
Examples of neural crest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Well, the neural crest is responsible for melanocytes (cells that bring pigmentation to skin or fur) as well as adrenal secretions—and as the number of neural crest cells goes down, both adrenal secretions and melanocytes are reduced in turn.
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Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 27 Oct. 2020
The scientists observe that the affected features are influenced by or derive from neural crest cells, a specific class of stem cells.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2019
The various traits related to domestication that neural crest cells are thought to control.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2019
Instead, a population of cells called the neural crest migrates in from the developing nervous system and then converts to cartilage once in the arch.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022
That's especially intriguing because elsewhere in the body the neural crest forms an astonishing variety of tissues: from the pigment cells in our skin to the nerve cells that control our digestive tract to the cells of our heart valve.
—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
One explanation for reduced brain size and other traits associated with domestication syndrome is outlined in the neural crest cell hypothesis, which was published in a 2014 study.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022
Last year other scientists came up with a testable hypothesis: tame animals may have fewer or defective neural crest cells.
—Virginia Morell, Scientific American, 1 July 2015
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Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 27 Oct. 2020
The scientists observe that the affected features are influenced by or derive from neural crest cells, a specific class of stem cells.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2019
The various traits related to domestication that neural crest cells are thought to control.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2019
Instead, a population of cells called the neural crest migrates in from the developing nervous system and then converts to cartilage once in the arch.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022
That's especially intriguing because elsewhere in the body the neural crest forms an astonishing variety of tissues: from the pigment cells in our skin to the nerve cells that control our digestive tract to the cells of our heart valve.
—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
One explanation for reduced brain size and other traits associated with domestication syndrome is outlined in the neural crest cell hypothesis, which was published in a 2014 study.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022
Last year other scientists came up with a testable hypothesis: tame animals may have fewer or defective neural crest cells.
—Virginia Morell, Scientific American, 1 July 2015
See More
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Word History
First Known Use
1882, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near neural crest
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“Neural crest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neural%20crest. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
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Medical Definition
neural crest
noun
: the ridge of one of the folds forming the neural tube that gives rise to the spinal ganglia and various structures of the autonomic nervous system
called also neural ridge
compare neural plate
More from Merriam-Webster on neural crest
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neural crest
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