Understanding Neurulae: The Early Stage of Neural Development

Neurulae (plural of neurula) is a term used in embryology to describe the early stage of neural development in which the neural tube, a structure that will eventually give rise to the brain and spinal cord, begins to form.

During the fourth week of embryonic development, the neural plate, a flat sheet of cells that lies above the notochord (a rod-like structure that runs along the length of the embryo), begins to fold in on itself to form a tube-like structure called the neurula. The neurula is made up of two layers of cells: the outer layer, which will eventually give rise to the ectoderm, and the inner layer, which will eventually give rise to the endoderm.

As the neurula continues to develop, it begins to differentiate into different regions that will eventually give rise to specific parts of the brain and spinal cord. The development of the neurula is a critical stage in the formation of the central nervous system, and any disruptions or abnormalities during this stage can lead to serious developmental defects or birth defects.