ɪɾ ɛkstˈɛndz fɹʌmðə ɹˈɑːstɹəl mˈɛsənsˌɛfælən tə ðɪ ˈɛnd ʌvðə spˈaɪnəl kˈoːɹd ænd kəntˈeɪnz pɹaɪmˈɛɹᵻli mˈoʊɾɚ nˈʊɹɹɑːnz, wˈɛɹæz nˈʊɹɹɑːnz fˈaʊnd ɪnðɪ ɐlˈɑːɹ plˈeɪt ɑːɹ pɹaɪmˈɛɹᵻli ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪɾᵻd wɪð sˈɛnsɚɹi fˈʌŋkʃənz.
It extends from the rostral mesencephalon to the end of the spinal cord and contains primarily motor neurons, whereas neurons found in the alar plate are primarily associated with sensory functions.