Cervical cancer cells dividing, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The cervix is the lower part of the womb, also called the neck of the womb, and comprises part of the woman’s reproductive system. Cervical cancer is more common in younger women and one of the main causes is a persistent infection of certain types of the human papilloma virus (HPV). In this image the cells are undergoing cytokinesis, which is the physical process of cell division that divides the parental cell into two daughter cells. Cancer cells often divide and multiply uncontrollably, which can lead to the formation of tumours. At the end of cytokinesis, the two daughter cells remain connected by the midbody for a short time. The midbody is organised by a set of microtubules and its main function is to localise the site of natural detachment (abscission) between the two daughter cells. The dividing cells are also displaying blebbing. Blebbing is a bulge or protrusion of the plasma membrane of the cell which is visible on the cell surface. Blebbing may occur for a number of different reasons including during apoptosis, if a cell is undergoing physical or chemical stress but it also has important functions in cellular processes such as cell division and cell locomotion playing a role in cell migration Magnification: x3200 when printed at 10cm wide. | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / ANNE E. WESTON |
Taille de l’image : | 3737 px × 2625 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |