Editing Neural plate (section)

{{short description|Structure in an embryo which will become the nervous system}}
{{Infobox embryology
| Name          = Neural plate
| Latin         = lamina neuralis
| Image         = Neural crest.svg
| Caption       = Neural crest
| Image2        =
| Caption2      =
| System        = [[Central nervous system]]
| CarnegieStage = 9
| Days          = 19
| Precursor     = [[Ectoderm]]
| GivesRiseTo   = [[Neural folds]]
}}

In [[embryology]], the '''neural plate''' is a key [[Development of the human body|developmental]] structure that serves as the basis for the [[nervous system]]. Cranial to the [[primitive node]] of the embryonic [[primitive streak]], [[Ectoderm|ectodermal tissue]] thickens and flattens to become the neural plate.  The region anterior to the primitive node can be generally referred to as the neural plate. Cells take on a columnar appearance in the process as they continue to lengthen and narrow.  The ends of the neural plate, known as the [[neural folds]], push the ends of the plate up and together, folding into the [[neural tube]], a structure critical to [[brain]] and [[spinal cord]] development.  This process as a whole is termed [[primary neurulation]].<ref name="Gilbert">{{cite book|last=Gilbert|first=Scott F.|title=Developmental biology|year=2010|publisher=Sinauer Associates|location=Sunderland, Mass.|isbn=978-0878933846|edition=9th.|pages=333–338}}</ref>

[[Signaling proteins]] are also important in neural plate development, and aid in [[Cellular differentiation|differentiating]] the tissue destined to become the neural plate. Examples of such proteins include [[bone morphogenetic protein]]s and [[cadherin]]s. Expression of these proteins is essential to neural plate folding and subsequent neural tube
formation.