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nerve cord
noun
1
: the pair of closely united ventral longitudinal nerves with their segmental ganglia that is characteristic of many elongate invertebrates (such as earthworms)
2
: the dorsal tubular cord of nervous tissue above the notochord of a chordate that comprises or develops into the central nervous system
Examples of nerve cord in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists recently identified the animal’s nerve cord by using a topsy-turvy twist.
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Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 24 June 2024
The researchers traced the nerve cords with a powerful microscope and found that one type—the cords closest to the suckers—not only ran the length of an arm but also extended down another arm two arms away.
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Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2023
Magnification of ventral nerve cord of Chengjiangocaris kunmingensis.
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K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
Each of the five specimens had a ventral nerve cord, the invertebrate version of a spinal cord.
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K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
The nerve cord is a chain of nerve cell clusters called ganglia, linked by the long arms of neurites.
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K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2016
The Stanleycaris nerve cord is completely non ganglionated.
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Jason P. Dinh, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2022
Our closest non-vertebrate relatives re-established a nerve cord (on the wrong side of the body, naturally) but couldn't be bothered with niceties like a skeleton.
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John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022
So, the presence of cartilage suggests that, even at this early stage of their evolution, vertebrates probably had a distinct nerve cord that produced a neural crest—something that our close relatives like the amphioxus doesn't have.
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John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022
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Word History
First Known Use
1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near nerve cord
Cite this Entry
“Nerve cord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerve%20cord. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
nerve cord
noun1
: a pair of closely united nerves that run along the inside of the body on the lower side of many long-bodied invertebrates (as earthworms and insects)
2
: a tube-shaped cord of nervous tissue in the back or upper side of a chordate above the notochord that makes up or develops into the central nervous system
Medical Definition
nerve cord
noun
: the dorsal tubular cord of nervous tissue above the notochord of a chordate that in vertebrates includes or develops an anterior enlargement comprising the brain and a more posterior part comprising the spinal cord with the two together making up the central nervous system
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