Furthermore, mesoderm has the capability to induce the growth of other structures, such as the neural plate, the precursor to the nervous system.

The paraxial mesoderm forms the somitomeres, which give rise to mesenchyme of the head, and organize into somites in occipital and caudal segments, and give rise to sclerotomes (cartilage and bone), and dermatomes (subcutaneous tissue of the skin).

[1][2] Signals for somite differentiation are derived from surroundings structures, including the notochord, neural tube, and epidermis.

Eventually it differentiates into urogenital structures that consist of the kidneys, gonads, their associated ducts, and the adrenal cortex.

[5] During the third week, a process called gastrulation creates a mesodermal layer between the endoderm and the ectoderm.

The cells of the epiblast move toward the primitive streak and slip beneath it, in a process called "invagination".

After that, the epiblast and the hypoblast establish contact with the extraembryonic mesoderm until they cover the yolk sac and amnion.

[4] This forms the notochord, which induces the formation of the neural tube, and establishes the anterior-posterior body axis.

If they appear in the cephalic region but establish contact with the neural plate, they are known as neuromeres, which later will form the mesenchyme in the head.

In the fourth week, the somites lose their organization and cover the notochord and spinal cord to form the backbone.

In the fifth week, there are 4 occipital somites, 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 8 to 10 coccygeal that will form the axial skeleton.

The notochord and the neural tube activate the protein SHH, which helps the somite to form its sclerotome.

The neural tube activates the protein WNT1 that expresses PAX 2 so the somite creates the myotome and dermatome.

However, there are still some doubts in how the prospective mesodermal cells integrate the various signals they receive and how they regulate their morphogenic behaviours and cell-fate decisions.

[4] The lateral plate mesoderm splits into the parietal (somatic) and visceral (splanchnic) layers.