The cranial neural crest is one of the four regions of the neural crest.[1]
The cranial neural crest arises in the anterior and populates the face and the pharyngeal arches giving rise to bones, cartilage, nerves and connective tissue.[2] The endocranium and facial bones of the skull are ultimately derived from crest cells.
Other Migration Locations:
Into the pharyngeal arches and play an inductive role in thymus development.
Around the optic vesicle and the developing eye and contributes to many eye elements such the choroid, sclera, iris, and ciliary body. It also contributes to the attaching skeletal muscles of the eye.
Into the otic placode and participates in the inner ear development.
