Neural crest
Neural Crest
The Neural Crest (pronunciation: /ˈnʊərəl krɛst/) is a group of cells that originate in the embryo and migrate to various parts of the body to form different tissues.
Etymology
The term "Neural Crest" is derived from the Latin words neur meaning "nerve" and cresta meaning "ridge". This is due to the location of these cells along the dorsal (back) part of the neural tube in the developing embryo.
Definition
The Neural Crest is a transient, multipotent, migratory cell population unique to vertebrates that gives rise to a diverse cell lineage including melanocytes, craniofacial cartilage and bone, smooth muscle, peripheral and enteric neurons and glia.
Development
During embryogenesis, the neural crest is formed along the dorsal ridge of the neural tube. These cells undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migrate to different parts of the body. The migration and differentiation of neural crest cells are guided by a combination of epigenetic factors and cell-cell interactions.
Functions
Neural crest cells contribute to a wide range of tissues and organs in the body. They form the peripheral nervous system, including the sensory ganglia, sympathetic ganglia, and parasympathetic ganglia. They also contribute to the formation of the adrenal medulla, craniofacial structures, and pigment cells in the skin and hair.
Related Terms
- Neural Tube
- Embryogenesis
- Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
- Epigenetics
- Sensory Ganglia
- Sympathetic Ganglia
- Parasympathetic Ganglia
- Adrenal Medulla
- Craniofacial Structures
- Pigment Cells
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Neural crest
- Wikipedia's article - Neural crest
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski