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Concept
Notochord
Summary
In anatomy, the notochord is a flexible rod which is similar in structure to the stiffer cartilage. If a species has a notochord at any stage of its life cycle (along with 4 other features), it is, by definition, a chordate. The notochord consists of inner, vacuolated cells covered by fibrous and elastic sheaths, lies along the anteroposterior axis (front to back), is usually closer to the dorsal than the ventral surface of the embryo, and is composed of cells derived from the mesoderm.
The most commonly cited functions of the notochord are: as a midline staple that provides directional reference to surrounding tissue during embryonic development, as an axial endoskeleton (structural element) and vertebral precursor, and as an elastic spring that allows more efficient tail motion when swimming.
In lancelets, the notochord persists throughout life as the main structural support of the body. In tunicates the notochord is present only in the larval stage, being completely absent in th
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