Lateral plate mesoderm


Lateral plate mesoderm is a type of mesoderm that is found at the periphery of the embryo.

Development

It will split into two layers, the somatic layer/mesoderm and the splanchnic layer/mesoderm
Spaces within the lateral plate are enclosed and forms the intraembryonic coelom.
It is formed by the secretion of BMP-4 by the ectoderm.

Serosal mesoderms

Lateral plate mesoderm gives rise to the serosal mesoderms.

Cavities

In the 4th week the coelom divides into pericardial, pleural and peritoneal cavities.
Cells from the lateral plate mesoderm and the myotome migrate to the limb field and proliferate to create the limb bud. The lateral plate cells produce the cartilaginous and skeletal portions of the limb while the myotome cells produce the muscle components. The lateral plate mesodermal cells secrete a fibroblast growth factor to induce the overlying ectoderm to form an important organizing structure called the apical ectodermal ridge.The AER reciprocatively secretes FGF8 and FGF4 which maintains the FGF10 signal and induces proliferation in the mesoderm. The position of FGF10 expression is regulated by Wnt8c in the hindlimb and Wnt2b in the forelimb. The forelimb and the hindlimb are specified by their position along the anterior/posterior axis and possibly by two T-box containing transcription factors: Tbx5 and Tbx4, respectively.