中心体作为一个部分真核细胞的胞器，由两个互相垂直的中心粒构成。中心体是动物细胞与低等植物细胞中主要的微管组织中心，同时也能够调节细胞周期进程。Edouard Van Beneden于1883年发现中心体。并在1888年由Theodor Boveri描述并命名。 一般认为，中心体只存在于后生动物的真核动物中。 真菌和植物使用其它种类的微管组织中心结构去组织它们的微管。尽管中心体在动物细胞的有丝分裂中起到了关键的作用，但它并不是必须的。

In cell biology, the centrosome (Latin centrum 'center' + Greek sōma 'body') is an organelle that serves as the main microtubule organizing center (MTOC) of the animal cell as well as a regulator of cell-cycle progression. It was discovered by Edouard Van Beneden in 1883, and later described and named in 1888 by Theodor Boveri. The centrosome is thought to have evolved only in the metazoan lineage of eukaryotic cells. Fungi and plants lack centrosomes and therefore use other MTOC structures to organize their microtubules. Although the centrosome has a key role in efficient mitosis in animal cells, it is not essential in certain fly and flatworm species.