The notochord is a crucial, flexible rod-like structure present in all chordates. Its composition is similar to that of cartilage and plays a significant role in the organisation and signalling of the nervous system. Typically, the notochord starts to develop approximately 16 days post-gastrulation from axial mesodermal cells and is fully formed by the end of the fourth week.
Here is an accurately labelled diagram of the notochord, as seen in the Phylum Chordata.
For more valuable information, visit our Biology section .
Recommended Reading:
What is a Notochord?
Notochord is a flexible rod-like structure that is found in all chordates. It is involved in signalling and organisation of the nervous system.
What are the main features of the Notochord?
The main features of the notochord include its composition of glycoproteins packed in a sheath of collagen fibres, its role in the development of the central nervous system, and its function in signalling which helps in transformation of unspecified embryonic cells into specific tissues and organs.
What is the role of the Notochord in chordates?
In vertebrates, the notochord is present in the embryonic stages but soon develops into an ossified vertebral column with intervertebral discs. It provides structural support to the animal’s body and helps in locomotion by the contraction of muscle fibres.