Prometaphase and metaphase in a stamen hair cell of Tradescantia virginiana. (1) Congressional movements of chromosomes result in the convergence of the centromeric regions of the replicated chromosomes in a plane near or at the spindle midzone. This site (2-4) is the metaphase plate, and is obliquely situated (from upper left to lower right) in this particular cell. The chromosomes do not lie still during metaphase, but actually wiggle around. It is common to observe sister chromatids unwinding at specific points during metaphase (compare image 3 and 4). Take me back.