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cephalization
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cephalization

biology
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History

cephalization, the differentiation of the anterior (front) end of an organism into a definite head. Considered an evolutionary advance, cephalization is accompanied by a concentration of nervous tissue (cephalic ganglion or brain) and feeding mechanisms in the head region that serves to integrate the activities of the nervous system. Some groups of organisms show full cephalization, but because their bodies are not divided into distinct trunks and heads, they cannot be said to possess a distinct anatomical head.

This article was most recently revised and updated by William L. Hosch.