Final answer:
Oligodendrocytes originate from the neural tube during embryonic development and play a crucial role in insulating axons in the central nervous system (CNS).
Step-by-step explanation:
Oligodendrocytes, which produce the myelin sheaths that surround many axons in the central nervous system (CNS), originate from the neural tube during embryonic development. The neural tube is formed by the convergence of two neural folds, which develop from specialized neuroectodermal tissues. These tissues, called the neural plate, thicken and fold upward to form the neural tube. Oligodendrocytes are derived from the neural tube and play a crucial role in insulating axons in the CNS.