cilium

(noun)

a hairlike organelle projecting from a eukaryotic cell (such as unicellular organism or one cell of a multicelled organism), which serves either for locomotion by moving or as sensors

Related Terms

Examples of cilium in the following topics:

  • Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules

    • When cilia (singular = cilium) are present, however, many of them extend along the entire surface of the plasma membrane.
    • This is an appropriate name because a single flagellum or cilium is made of a ring of nine microtubule doublets surrounding a single microtubule doublet in the center .

  • Physical and Chemical Barriers

    • These include tears in the eyes; mucous membranes that provide partial protection despite having to allow absorption and secretion; mucus secretions that trap and rinse away pathogens; and cilia (singular cilium) in the nasal passages and respiratory tract that push the mucus with the pathogens out of the body .