Cerebral Cortex: Subplate

Abstract

The first cortical neurons separate from the proliferative zone (i.e., ventricular zone) and build up a single layer on the nonventricular side called primitive plexiforme layer or preplate. Then a third zone becomes visible between the ventricular zone and the preplate, i.e., the intermediate zone. Neuronal precursors destined to form the cortical plate migrate through the intermediate zone and the lower half of the preplate. They settle in the middle of the preplate and thus divide the latter into two layers: the outer layer becomes the marginal zone (layer I of the mature cortex) and the deeper becomes the subplate (Marin-Padilla 1998a; Kostovic and Rakic 1990).