Where is the dorsal hollow nerve cord located relative to the notochord?

• A. Dorsal to the notochord
• B. Ventral to the notochord
• C. Lateral to the notochord
• D. Inside the notochord

Answer: (A)

In chordates, the dorsal hollow nerve cord runs along the back and lies above the notochord. The notochord sits more ventrally, providing axial support, while the nerve cord forms above it from the ectoderm. So the nerve cord is positioned on the dorsal side relative to the notochord. The other spatial ideas—ventral (below), lateral (to the side), or inside the notochord—don’t match this arrangement.