Final answer:
Neurulation is the process of forming the neural tube and there are two major ways this occurs: the elevation and convergence of neural folds and the buckling and convergence of the neural plate to form the neural tube, leading to the development of the central nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of forming the neural tube, called neurulation, is a critical phase in organogenesis during embryonic development. This process follows gastrulation and involves the transformation of the neural plate, which is a specialized region of the ectodermal layer, into the neural tube. The first major way this occurs is through the elevation of neural folds along the edge of the neural plate. Eventually, these folds converge at the midline to form the neural tube. The second major method comes from cell movements where the plate buckles and the cells converge to seal off the tube. Once formed, the neural tube gives rise to the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. Surrounding tissues such as the notochord and somites also play an integral role during this process, influencing the neural tube formation and subsequently differentiating into other structures like the axial skeleton and skeletal muscles.