Cilia
Cilia (singular: Cilium) are cylindrical organelles[1], built from microtubules, in a “9 + 2” arrangement[2], and dyneins. The majority of cilia in different eukaryotes have this characteristic arrangement[3]. They are motile structures whereby the rhythmic beating of cilia creates movement. Cilia are involved in mucociliary clearance in which bacteria, mucus and dust are swept up the respiratory tract into the mouth and eliminated by swallowing. Moreover, ciliated cells move oocytes along the fallopian tubes, and sperm from testes into the male reproductive tract[4]. Furthermore, by the beating of cilia, single cells are able to propel through fluid[5]. The movement of cilia is caused by axoneme, which can reach a length of 10-200 micrometers [6]. Cilia can also be immotile (primary cilia) and have a “9+0” arrangement where they have 9 peripheral doublet microtubules and 0 single microtubules in the centre[7].
References
- ↑ Lynn H. (2008) The Ciliated Protozoa Characterization, Classification, and Guide to the Literature, New York: Springer
- ↑ Lynn H. (2008) The Ciliated Protozoa Characterization, Classification, and Guide to the Literature, New York: Springer
- ↑ Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th Ed, New York; Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group. 2015
- ↑ Martini FH, Nath JL, Bartholomew EF. Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology. 9th Ed, San Francisco; Pearson Education Inc: 2012.
- ↑ Alberts, Bruce et al. (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th edition, New York: Garland Science. (Page 1031)
- ↑ Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th Ed, New York; Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group. 2015.
- ↑ Satir P, Pedersen LB, Christensen ST. The primary cilium at a glance. Journal of Cell Science 2010; 123(499-503): 1. http://jcs.biologists.org/content/123/4/499 (accessed 14 November 2016).