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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
Green genes What Feiner and her team discovered while analyzing the lizards’ genomes was that the features that make P. nigriventris stand out are determined by genes that regulate neural crest cells.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 22 May 2024
But because lampreys are jawless, scientists assumed their embryos did not have a neural crest and therefore did not develop sympathetic neurons.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2024
None of the neural crest throughout the body of mammals goes on to form bone.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 18 July 2023
Shortly after the developing nervous system closes off into a tube, the neural crest cells leave it behind.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 18 July 2023
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1882, in the meaning defined above
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 Nov. 2024.
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 plateMore from Merriam-Webster on neural crest
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neural crest
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