During embryogenesis, the nerve cord forms above the notochord and later differentiates into the central nervous system in many chordates.

In many invertebrates, the paired nerve cords run along the ventral side of the body.

During the dissection, the professor pointed out the ventral nerve cord as a major structure of the invertebrate nervous system.

In many annelids, the ventral nerve cords run longitudinally beneath the gut and coordinate locomotion.