Question

What are the derivatives of neural crests?

Answer 1

Neural crest cells are a type of cells that arises from the embryonic ectoderm germ layer in vertebrates and gives rise to a wide range of cell types which includes craniofacial cartilage and bone, melanocytes, peripheral and enteric neurons, smooth muscles and glia. Neural crest cells are defined at the border of the neural plate and the non-neural ectoderm during gastrulation.

Complete answer:
In vertebrates, the neural crest is a transient embryonic structure that gives rise to most of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) as well as several non-neural cell types such as pigment cells in the skin, craniofacial bones, smooth muscle cells in the cardiovascular system, cartilage and connective tissues.
The cranial, cardiac, vagal, and trunk neural crests are the four primary portions of the neuraxis that produce neural crest derivatives. The majority of the head’s connective and skeletal components, as well as nerves and pigment cells, are produced by the cranial neural crest. Cardiac neural crest cells play an important role in heart development by producing the aorticopulmonary septum and conotruncal cushions, while enteric ganglia are a primary descendant of the vagal neural crest.
Neural crest cells in the trunk migrate in two pathways: Cells moving along the dorsal pathway populate the skin, where they give rise to melanocytes; cells migrating along the lateral pathway, on the other hand, produce sensory and sympathetic ganglia, as well as adrenal chromaffin cells. When confronted with sufficient extracellular cues, neural crest cells from the trunk can form mesenchymal derivatives.

Note:
The abnormal specification, migration, differentiation, or death of neural crest cells during embryonic development causes neurocristopathies. This group of disorders includes a wide range of congenital abnormalities that afflict a large number of babies. Furthermore, they develop as a result of genetic abnormalities impacting neural crest formation as well as Teratogen action.