The midbody structure contains bundles of microtubules derived from the mitotic spindle which compacts during the final stages of cell division. It has a typical diameter of 1 micrometre and a length of 3 to 5 micrometres. Aside from microtubules it also contains various proteins involved in cytokinesis, asymmetric cell division, and chromosome segregation. 
The midbody is important for completing the final stages of cytokinesis, a process called abscission. During symmetric abscission, the midbody is severed at each end and released into the cellular environment.