fˈʌŋkʃənəli, ðə stɹˈʌktʃɚ sˈɜːvz æz ɐn ˈɔːɹɡənˌaɪzɚ tə vˈɛntɹəlˌaɪz tˈɪʃuːz ɪnðɪ ˈɛmbɹɪˌoʊ æz wˈɛl æz tə ɡˈaɪd nˈʊɹɹɑːnəl pəzˈɪʃənɪŋ ænd dˌɪfɚɹˌɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən ɐlˈɔŋ ðə dˈoːɹsoʊvˌɛntɹəl ˈæksɪs ʌvðə nˈʊɹɹəl tˈuːb.
Functionally, the structure serves as an organizer to ventralize tissues in the embryo as well as to guide neuronal positioning and differentiation along the dorsoventral axis of the neural tube.