Which embryological structure gives rise to the peripheral nervous system?
Solution
Correct Answer: Option B
- The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is primarily derived from the neural crest, a group of cells that originate at the border of the neural tube during embryonic development.
- These cells are highly migratory and differentiate into various cell types, including sensory neurons, autonomic ganglia, Schwann cells, and satellite cells of the peripheral nerves.
- In contrast, the neural tube gives rise to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), while somites form structures such as skeletal muscle, vertebrae, and dermis.
- The notochord is a midline structure important for signaling and patterning during development but does not directly form the nervous system.
Thus, the correct answer is the neural crest because it is the embryological origin of the peripheral nervous system components.
Reference: Langman’s Medical Embryology, 14th Edition, Chapter 8: Development of the Nervous System, Page 187.