Which phase of mitosis occurs immediately after metaphase?

After metaphase, the phase that occurs is anaphase. During anaphase, the replicated chromosomes, which have been aligned at the cell equator during metaphase, are pulled apart and moved toward opposite poles of the cell. This is facilitated by the spindle fibers that connect to the centromeres of the chromosomes. Anaphase is crucial for ensuring that each daughter cell will receive an identical set of chromosomes once cell division is complete. This separation of sister chromatids is a key event in the mitotic process and lays the groundwork for the subsequent phases, including telophase and cytokinesis, where the cell will finally divide into two distinct cells. Understanding this sequence of events is essential in the study of cell division and genetics.