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A structure integral to the developing nervous system of vertebrate organisms. Located on the ventral midline of the embryonic neural tube, the floor plate is a specialized glial structure that spans the anteroposterior axis from the midbrain to the tail regions. It has been shown that the floor plate is conserved among vertebrates with homologous structures in invertebrates such as the fruit fly Drosophila and the nematode C. elegans. Functionally, the structure serves as an organizer to ventralize tissues in the embryo as well as to guide neuronal positioning and differentiation along the dorsoventral axis of the neural tube.

Organizing center consisting of a small group of cells located at the ventral midline of the neural tube that influences the development of the nervous system, governing the specification of neuronal cell types and directing axonal trajectories.[AAO]

although this is classically defined as being located on the neural tube, in many AOs the floor plate continues post-embryonically after the neural tube has ceased to exist. Consider 'floor plate of neural tube'.

uberon

bodenplatte, ventral plate, FP

UBERON:0003079

• floor plate of neural tube
• floor plate of midbrain
• lateral floor plate