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. 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neural crest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neural crest was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near neural crest

Cite this Entry

“Neural crest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neural%20crest. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

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

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