The Cell Cycle: Mitosis and Cytokinesis

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the stages of mitosis (prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase) and cytokinesis in plant and animal cells.

Prophase

The stage of mitosis where chromosomes condense and become visible, spindle fibers emerge from the centrosomes, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and centrosomes move toward opposite poles.

Prometaphase

The stage of mitosis where chromosomes continue to condense, kinetochores appear at the centromeres, and mitotic spindle microtubules attach to kinetochores.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis where chromosomes line up at the metaphase plate, and each sister chromatid is attached to a spindle fiber originating from opposite poles.

Anaphase

The stage of mitosis where centromeres split in two, sister chromatids (now called chromosomes) are pulled toward opposite poles, and certain spindle fibers begin to elongate the cell.

Telophase

The stage of mitosis where chromosomes arrive at opposite poles and begin to decondense, nuclear envelope material surrounds each set of chromosomes, the mitotic spindle breaks down, and spindle fibers continue to push poles apart.

Cytokinesis

The process of cell division following mitosis in which daughter cells are separated by a cleavage furrow in animal cells, or by a cell plate in plant cells.

Kinetochores

Protein structures that appear at the centromeres during prometaphase, providing attachment sites for mitotic spindle microtubules.

Metaphase Plate

The equatorial alignment region where chromosomes line up during metaphase.

Cleavage Furrow

The indentation formed in animal cells during cytokinesis that ultimately pinches and separates the daughter cells.

Cell Plate

The precursor structure to a new cell wall that forms in plant cells during cytokinesis to separate the daughter cells.