Structure, Development, and Phylogeny of Cranial Nerves : Symposium of the American Society of Zoologists, December 1991. Special Topic Issue: Acta Anatomica 1993, Vol. 148, No. 2-3

The cranial nerves are of continued interest to vertebrate morphologists because they are fundamental to studies designed to better understand the origin and organization of the head of craniates.

During the past decade, immunohistochemical and transplantation experiments have lead to a re-evaluation of the traditional views concerning the development of head mesoderm, neurectoderm, and the central and peripheral connections of the functional components of the cranial nerves.

Authored by comparative zoologists and other experts, these contributions review and reinterpret traditional views on the basis of new findings in both embryos and adults.

They also present new perspectives on the origin and evolution of the cranial nerves.

The information will be useful to vertebrate morphologists and other investigators with an interest in cranial nerves.