Final answer:
A stained and photographed arrangement of chromosomes organized in homologous pairs and ordered by size is known as a karyotype, which is pivotal for detecting chromosomal abnormalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The picture obtained by staining chromosomes from mitotic cells, photographing them under a microscope, and arranging them in homologous pairs in descending order of size is called a karyotype. Karyotypes are essential in cytogenetics, as they allow geneticists and clinicians to screen for chromosomal abnormalities such as extra or missing chromosomes and detect disorders.
The process involves using various dyes, such as the Giemsa stain, to produce banding patterns on the chromosomes, which are then arranged numerically to show each chromosome's number and appearance, including their length, banding pattern, and centromere position.