The neural plate is a flat layer of cells that forms during the early stages of embryonic development in vertebrates. It is a crucial part of the process that leads to the formation of the nervous system. The neural plate arises from the ectoderm, one of the three primary germ layers in the embryo. As development progresses, the neural plate undergoes a process called neurulation, where it folds and eventually forms the neural tube. This tube will later develop into the brain and spinal cord, making the neural plate essential for proper neurodevelopment.