Final answer:
As NMPs progress, they leave behind somites which develop into various structures, including ribs, lungs, and muscles. These somites originate from the mesoderm and are not neural crest cells, which are associated with the development of the peripheral nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs) are crucial during embryonic development as they give rise to neural and mesodermal tissue. As NMPs progress and differentiate, they contribute to the formation of the mesoderm. The mesoderm then reorganizes into structures known as somites, which further develop into ribs, lungs, segmental muscles, and contribute to the formation of the vertebral column. The notochord, which is formed by mesoderm cells, sends out signals that guide the ectoderm to form the neural plate, which eventually folds to create the neural tube, a precursor to the central nervous system.
Cells at the edge of the neural plate, known as the neural fold, converge to form the neural tube and also give rise to the neural crest cells. These cells then migrate away and play a vital role in the development of the peripheral nervous system and other structures such as craniofacial cartilage, bone, and melanocytes. However, the notochord itself degenerates over time and persists only as the nucleus pulposus within the intervertebral discs. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (c) Somites, which are left behind by the NMPs as they progress into neural mesenchyme.