Diagram of the force generation and transmission in migrating cells. Active myosin II (dumbbell figures in the top schemas) generates tension between the front and the back of the cell, which is transmitted to gripping adhesions (straight teeth) at the front and slipping adhesions (tilted teeth) at the back and sides. When myosin II is inhibited (bottom schemas), the pushing force of actin assembly at the front is transmitted to the back, likely through the plasma membrane or the cortical cytoskeleton (gray arrows and question mark). The adhesions are weak (shallow teeth), allowing the cell to move without transmitting significant force to the substrate.