Cells in mitosis are easy to spot.

Instead of a nucleus, the chromosomes are visible as tangled, dark-staining threads.

We call these "mitotic figures." Counting mitotic figures sometimes helps the pathologist tell benign from malignant.

If you see a nuclear membrane, it is not a mitotic figure.

This is a small-intestine crypt.

With your study partners, find:

• the mitotic figure

United States Pronunciations:

• Mitotis: my-TOE-sis


• Mitotic: my-TOT-tick

Roots:

• mito: thread


• -osis: full of (this is the actual meaning, despite what anybody else may tell you)


• chromo: colored, dark-staining


• some, soma: body


• pro-: first


• meta-: beyond


• ana-: on both sides (one of several meanings)


• telo-: end

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Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences