Embryonic division, also known as cleavage, is the process of rapid cell division that occurs after fertilization in the early stages of embryonic development. During this process, the zygote divides into multiple cells called blastomeres. As the blastomeres divide, they form a solid ball of cells called a morula, which then undergoes further cell division and rearrangement to form a blastula. Embryonic division is critical to the formation of a multicellular organism and the establishment of the body plan.