nonneural

Nonneural is an adjective used to describe tissue, cells, or processes that are not part of the nervous system or do not involve neurons. In biology and medicine, it serves to distinguish components of neural tissue (neurons and their supporting framework) from elements that have nonconductive, structural, or metabolic roles. The form is less common than non-neuronal, but is encountered in embryology and neuroanatomy.

In embryology, nonneural ectoderm refers to the portion of the ectoderm that forms epidermis and related structures, as opposed to neural ectoderm, which forms the neural tube and the central nervous system. In neuroanatomy, nonneural elements include meninges, blood vessels, and connective tissue surrounding neural tissue, and, more broadly, any cells or tissue not containing neurons.

Nonneural cells are those that do not generate action potentials as neurons do; examples include endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and many glial cell types considered non-neuronal. In research and pathology, distinguishing neural from nonneural regions helps localize diseases, tumors, or injuries to neurons versus supporting tissues.

Terminology varies by field; non-neuronal is often preferred for clarity, while nonneural remains a concise alternative. The term is primarily descriptive and context-dependent, with its exact meaning defined by the subject under discussion.