develops_from neural tube (...) at some stage of its development, every chordate exhibits five uniquely derived characters or synapomorphies of the group: (...) (4) a single, tubular nerve cord that is located dorsal to the notochord (...).[well established][VHOG] AAO:0010617 BTO:0001057 CALOHA:TS-2371 DHBA:10154 EHDAA2:0001254 EHDAA:2869 EHDAA:908 EMAPA:16164 EMAPA:16530 EMAPA:16757 FMA:293882 Hollow epithelial tube on dorsal side of the embryo that develops into the central nervous system.[AAO] In the developing vertebrate, the neural tube is the embryo's precursor to the central nervous system, which comprises the brain and spinal cord. The neural groove gradually deepens as the neural folds become elevated, and ultimately the folds meet and coalesce in the middle line and convert the groove into a closed tube, the neural tube or neural canal (which strictly speaking is the center of the neural tube), the ectodermal wall of which forms the rudiment of the nervous system. [WP,unvetted]. MAT:0000069 MIAA:0000069 TAO:0001135 The dorsal tubular structure in the vertebrate embryo that develops into the brain and spinal cord. [TFD][VHOG] The mature structure of the neural tube exists when the tube has been segmented into the forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord regions. In addition neural crest has budded away from the epithelium UBERON:0001049 UMLS:C0231024 VHOG:0000307 XAO:0003204 ZFA:0001135 neural primordium presumptive central nervous system tubus neuralis uberon epithelial tube neural rod embryonic tissue ecto-epithelium future central nervous system