Cytokinesis
Cytokinesis, aka cytoplasmic division, follows mitotic cell division and divides the cytoplasm, creating two daughter cells.
Plants
Cytokinesis uses cell plate formation to divide the cytoplasm in plant cells. At the spindle equator vesicles fuse with each other forming a cell plate. The vesicles contain structural and cementing materials for a new primary cell wall. Then cellulose is deposited between the two membranes forming on the cell plate and other deposits cement the walls together. A crosswall forms that divides the parent cell into two daughter cells.
Animals
Cytokinesis in animal cells takes place in the form of cleavage.
A circular indentation, shown by the arrows, is caused by rings of microfilaments sliding past each other.
The indentation forms at the cell's midsection. As the microfilaments slide past each other, the plasma membrane is pulled inwards, shown in the box, and eventually slices the cell in two.
Before the cell is divided, the cell resembles the GLUTEUS MAXIMUS, better known as BUTTOCKS, as you can see:
Click on the BUTT above to get a better view of the indentation.
The completion of cytokinesis marks the end of mitosis.
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