Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

Cell Migration

Cell Migration

Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.

Cell Migration

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...

Morphogenesis

Morphogenesis

Plant morphogenesis—the development of a plant’s form and structure—involves several overlapping developmental processes, including growth and cell differentiation. Precursor cells differentiate into specific cell types, which are organized into the tissues and organ systems that make up the functional plant.

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A quantitative pipeline for whole-mount deep imaging and analysis of multi-layered organoids across scales.

eLife·2026

Same author

Biophysics of organoids.

Developmental cell·2025

Same author

Fast volumetric fluorescence lifetime imaging of multicellular systems using single-objective light-sheet microscopy.

Communications biology·2025

Same author

Epithelial-mesenchymal interface guides cell shapes and axis elongation in embryonic explants.

Development (Cambridge, England)·2025

Same author

Nuclear position controls the activity of cortical actomyosin networks powering simultaneous morphogenetic events.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

[Zonula adherens matura: A new intestinal cell junction].

Medecine sciences : M/S·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 31, 2021

Cortical forces in cell shape changes and tissue morphogenesis.

Matteo Rauzi¹, Pierre-François Lenne

¹IBDML, UMR6216 CNRS-Université de Méditerraneé, Campus de Luminy, Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.

Current Topics in Developmental Biology

|April 20, 2011

Summary

Cortical forces, crucial for tissue development, are explored for their physical nature and organization. Understanding how these forces assemble and act at cell surfaces drives key morphogenetic movements in epithelia.

More Related Videos

Probing Cell Mechanics with Bead-Free Optical Tweezers in the Drosophila Embryo

Probing Cell Mechanics with Bead-Free Optical Tweezers in the Drosophila Embryo

Published on: November 2, 2018

Improved Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Drug Effects Using Micropatterned Cells

Improved Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Drug Effects Using Micropatterned Cells

Published on: December 2, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 31, 2021

Probing Cell Mechanics with Bead-Free Optical Tweezers in the Drosophila Embryo

Probing Cell Mechanics with Bead-Free Optical Tweezers in the Drosophila Embryo

Published on: November 2, 2018

Improved Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Drug Effects Using Micropatterned Cells

Improved Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Drug Effects Using Micropatterned Cells

Published on: December 2, 2010

Area of Science:

Cellular and Molecular Biology
Biophysics
Developmental Biology

Background:

Cortical forces are essential for cell shape changes and movements during tissue morphogenesis.
Molecular components of cortical forces are known, but their assembly and organization remain unclear.
Understanding force generation and transmission in developing tissues is a key research area.

Purpose of the Study:

To review key aspects of cortical forces, including their physical nature and emergence rules.
To explain how cortical forces drive morphogenetic movements in epithelia.
To synthesize knowledge from genetic, molecular, biophysical, and modeling approaches.

Main Methods:

Literature review integrating genetic/molecular studies.
Biophysical analyses of force generation and transmission.
Computational modeling of tissue morphogenesis.

Main Results:

Cortical forces exhibit specific physical properties and follow emergent rules.
The spatial and temporal organization of cortical forces is critical for cell shape changes.
Deployment of cortical forces at the cell surface drives significant morphogenetic events in epithelia.

Conclusions:

Cortical force generation and transmission are fundamental to tissue development.
Further research integrating diverse approaches is needed to fully elucidate cortical force dynamics.
This review provides a framework for understanding cortical forces in developmental contexts.