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Which parts of the nervous system develop from neural crest cells?
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prenatal development
An ultrasound image of a human fetus.
During prenatal development, neural crest cellsāwhich originate as ectodermal groupings alongside the neural tubeāmigrate to various locations to form essential components of the peripheral nervous system.12
Specifically, these cells contribute to the following parts of the nervous system:
- Peripheral Nervous System Elements: Neural crest cells develop into most elements of the peripheral nervous system, including various cranial nerve cells and ganglia.12
- Sympathetic Nerve Ganglia: In the trunk region, they give rise to paired chains of sympathetic nerve ganglia.1
- Schwann Cells: They are the source of Schwann cells, which provide insulation for nerve fibers in the peripheral nervous system.1
- Meninges: They contribute to the formation of the meningeal covering of the brain.1
While the neural tube itself develops into the central nervous system, the neural crest cells are distinct, migrating away to form these diverse structures associated with the nervous system and other body tissues.12