equatorial plate

American  

noun

Cell Biology.

1. the central plane of the spindle in a dividing cell, to which chromosomes migrate during the metaphase of mitosis or meiosis.

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Etymology

Origin of equatorial plate

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The parasite even participates in the equatorial plate that defines metaphase, along with the chromosomes!

From Scientific American • Jul. 27, 2013

The metaphase is the parting of the sister chromosomes in the equatorial plate; their passage to opposite poles of the spindle constitutes the anaphase; and their reconstruction to form the resting daughter nuclei, the telophase.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various

It may occur, as described, at about the time the asters have reached the opposite poles of the nucleus, and an equatorial plate is formed.

From The Story of the Living Machine A Review of the Conclusions of Modern Biology in Regard to the Mechanism Which Controls the Phenomena of Living Activity by Conn, H. W. (Herbert William)

An equatorial plate of the first division is shown in figure 148, and a pair of corresponding plates of the second spermatocyte in figure 149.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria

Figure 29 is the equatorial plate of a metaphase in which the larger component of the unequal pair has been removed in sectioning.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria