neural crest cell A cell of the strip of specialized ectoderm flanking each side of the embryonal neural plate, which after the closure of the neural tube, forms a column of isolated cells along the dorsal aspect of the neural tube. Most of the cranial and all of the spinal sensory ganglion cells arise by differentiation of neural crest cells. CL:0000333 CL:0000333 TAO:0009165 teleost_anatomy true