Mesencephalic Floor Plate

The mesencephalic floor plate lies in the ventral midline region of the mesencehpalon and secretes signaling molecules critical to its role as an embryonic organizing center. Together with the mesencehpalic basal plate, it gives rise to the midbrain tegmentum, which contains, among others, the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area (VTA), oculomotor nucleus and the red nucleus.