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What sort of cells are in the neural plate/neural tube?

User Abnerl
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Final answer:

The neural plate and neural tube contain neuroectodermal cells differing from the ectoderm, which fold to form the neural tube, that eventually differentiates into the system's brain and spinal cord.

Step-by-step explanation:

Neural Plate and Neural Tube Cells

The cells found in the neural plate and the neural tube are specialized forms of ectodermal cells known as neuroectodermal tissues. These tissues differentiate from the ectoderm, forming the neuroepithelium that thickens into the neural plate. As development progresses, the neural plate cells undergo a transformation that causes the tissue to fold inward, forming the neural tube. This critical structure will eventually give rise to the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. Alongside its formation, the mesodermal cells form the notochord, which sends signals to the overlying ectodermal cells, influencing the formation of the neural tube. Furthermore, the neural crest, a group of cells originating from the folds of the neural tube, migrates to give rise to parts of the peripheral nervous system and other non-nervous tissues such as craniofacial components and melanocytes.

The neural tube itself consists of proliferating cell populations that will differentiate into the neurons and glia of the spinal cord. It is these cells that are responsible for the future dorsal tissues associated with sensory functions and the ventral tissues associated with motor functions in the developed spinal cord.