Final answer:
The 'neural tube' is the embryonic structure that develops into the central nervous system, formed from the ectoderm through the neurulation process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The embryonic structure that gives rise to the structures of the central nervous system is called the neural tube. This development occurs through a process known as neurulation, where cells from the primary germ layer known as the ectoderm thicken to form a neural plate. As the process continues, the neural plate folds inwards, and the folds merge to form the neural tube, which then differentiates into the brain and spinal cord.
This neural tube serves as a precursor to key central nervous system structures, such as the cerebrum and thalamus, which are derived from its subsequent subdivisions into vesicles during the fourth and fifth weeks of embryonic development. The anterior end of the neural tube develops into the brain, while the posterior portion becomes the spinal cord.