key term - Cleavage Furrow

Definition

The cleavage furrow is a shallow groove in the cell membrane where cytoplasmic division will occur. It's the first sign of cytokinesis during cell division in an animal cell.

Related terms

Cytokinesis:

This is the process where one cell splits off from its sister cell. It usually follows mitosis and meiosis, which are types of nuclear division.

Cell Membrane:

This is a thin layer that surrounds every living cell, delimiting the cell from the environment around it. It plays a vital role in protecting the integrity of the interior of the cell by allowing certain substances into the cell while keeping other substances out.

Mitosis:

This is a part of cellular reproduction where the cell nucleus divides. The chromosomes separate into two identical sets in two separate nuclei.