Lateral plate

Lateral Plate

The lateral plate is a structure found in the embryonic development of vertebrates. It is one of the three primary layers, or germ layers, that form in the early embryo. The lateral plate splits into two layers, forming a series of spaces known as coelomic cavities.

Formation

The lateral plate forms during the process of gastrulation, when the blastula reorganizes into three germ layers: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The lateral plate is part of the mesoderm layer. It forms on either side of the notochord, a rod-shaped structure that is the precursor to the vertebral column.

Structure

The lateral plate mesoderm splits into two layers: the somatic (or parietal) mesoderm and the splanchnic (or visceral) mesoderm. The space between these two layers forms the coelomic cavities. These cavities will eventually develop into the body cavities, including the pericardial cavity, pleural cavity, and peritoneal cavity.

Function

The lateral plate mesoderm gives rise to several important structures in the vertebrate body. The somatic mesoderm contributes to the formation of the dermis, the skeleton, and the muscles of the limbs, body wall, and the outer layers of the digestive and respiratory tracts. The splanchnic mesoderm contributes to the formation of the muscles and connective tissues of the circulatory, lymphatic, reproductive, and the inner layers of the digestive and respiratory tracts.

See also

• Germ layer
• Mesoderm
• Embryogenesis
• Coelom