Dorsolateral Hinge Point Cells (Msncp)

Bending of the neural plate to form the neural tube occurs at two principle sites: the median hinge point (MHP) that overlies the notochord, and the dorsolateral hinge points (DLHP) that are situated at the connection of the neural plate with the remainder of the ectoderm. In contrast to the spinal neural plate, DLHP cells in the cranial region are present along the entire anterior-posterior axis. Cranial DLHP formation depends not only on correct signals from the notochord and the surface ectoderm, but also on proper cell behavior of the underlying head mesenchyme.