key term - Neural plate

Definition

The neural plate is a key embryonic structure that forms in the vertebrate embryo and develops into the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It arises from the ectoderm, the outermost layer of cells in an early embryo, following signals for its development.

Related terms

Ectoderm:

The outermost layer of cells in an embryo from which the skin and nervous system develop.

Neurulation:

The process by which the neural plate forms into the neural tube, a critical step in the formation of the central nervous system.

Neural Tube:

A tube-like structure formed from the folding and closure of the neural plate, which eventually develops into the brain and spinal cord