part_of part of part of develops from existence starts during produces sonic hedgehog protein organ embryo stage multi-tissue structure neural tube digestive tract notochord UBERON:0002328 AAO:0000327 GAID:1311 XAO:0000055 VHOG:0000199 FMA:85521 EMAPA:16191 NCIT:C12463 EHDAA:1241 VSAO:0000032 Wikipedia:Notochord BTO:0001768 SCTID:308820002 embryonic notocord CALOHA:TS-0690 The notochord appears early in embryogeny and plays an important role in promoting or organizing the embryonic development of nearby structures. In most adult chordates the notochord disappears or becomes highly modified. In some non-vertebrate chordates and fishes the notochord persists as a laterally flexible but incompressible skeletal rod that prevents telescopic collapse of the body during swimming[TOLWEB] EHDAA:6021 http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/images/history/notochords.jpg EHDAA2:0001277 notocord A flexible rod-shaped body found in embryos of all chordates. It is composed of cells derived from the mesoderm and defines the primitive axis of the embryo. In some chordates, it persists throughout life as the main axial support of the body, while in most vertebrates it becomes the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. The notochord is found ventral to the neural tube. EV:0100002 ZFA:0000135 MESH:D009672 TAO:0000135 MAT:0000281 ectoderm-derived structure chordamesoderm notochordal plate axial skeletal system