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Cilia & Flagella
The Dynamic Movers of Life
Let's study in more detail
about these very
interesting features of
life!
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CILIA : Guardians of
Movement and Sensory
Perception
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The microsopic image of Trachea
Cilia (sing.: cilium)
• Cilia are small slender hair-like structures present on
the surface of all mammalian cells. Cilia are
microscopic, have hair-like structures that project from
the surface of many eukaryotic cells.
• The organelle cilia are found in eukaryotic cells.
• Cilia are membrane-bound structure with their
membrane being continuous with the plasma
membrane.
• Unlike plasma membrane of cells, ciliary membrane has
been shown to contain distinct lipids and proteins.
• They are primitive in nature and could be single or
many.
Cilia under electron microscope • They can be of two types, motile cilia and non-motile
cilia.
• The non-motile cilia are known as primary cilia and act
as sensory organelles. The cilia are structurally identical
to flagella.
• Prokaryotic bacteria do not have cilia.
• Cilia play a major role in locomotion.
Mortile
Cilia
Types of
Types ofCilia
Cilia
Non-Mortile
Cilia
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Mortile Cilia :
The Movement Specialists
• These are found in large number on the surface of
the cell.
• In humans, These are found in the respiratory
epithelium of the respiratory tract. Here, they
function by cleaning the mucus and dust out of the
lungs.
• Motile cilia (9+2) can be found in both higher
animals and single-celled eukaryotes. In
microscopic organisms known as ciliates, motile
cilia are used for locomotion or for moving fluid
over their surface, which contributes to the feeding
process.
• In higher animals such as human beings, motile
cilia can be found in a number of tissues, (e.g.,
respiratory epithelium and fallopian tubes), where
they are either involved in the clearance of or
moving of substances. In the respiratory system,
Non-Mortile Cilia
The Sensory Gatekeepers
• Non-motile cilia, also known as primary cilia, are
hair-like structures found on the surface of most
eukaryotic cells. Unlike motile cilia, which are
responsible for movement, non-motile cilia do not
move.
• Instead, they serve as sensory organelles. They
help in signal transduction(urine flow), detecting
environmental stimuli, and regulating various
cellular processes such as cell growth and
differentiation.
• The structure of non-motile cilia is similar to motile
cilia, consisting of a 9+0 arrangement of
microtubules, meaning there are nine outer
microtubule doublets but no central pair.
• Non-motile cilia are crucial for normal cellular
function and development, and defects in them can
lead to diseases known as ciliopathies, affecting the
kidneys, eyes, and nervous system.
• They also detect changes in pressure and fluid
movement across the cell surface .
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• Cilia re made of microtubules coated by plasma membrane.
• Mortile cilia are chacterized by a radical pattern consisting of nine (9) outer
microtubules doublets surrounding two (2) singlet microtubules at the center. This 9+2
Cilia
pattern is referred axoneme .
• In addition to in the microtubules which are the main components of the structure
Structure
motile cilia are also composed of dynein arms and radical spokes that contribute to the
overall mortality of the structure,
• The axoneme (the bundle of microtubules which measure about 0.25 mm in diameter)
is surrounded by plasma membrane and the whole structure (cilia) can be identified
under the microscope.
• The nine outer pair are made up of motor protein called dynein. These are large and
flexible that allows the serial to move.
• Cilia are attached to the cell and the basal body that is made up of microtubules
arranged in nine triplets.
Flagella: The Propellers of
Cells
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Flagella (sing.: flagellum)
• Flagella are structurally similar to cilia but are typically longer
and fewer in number.
• The most well-known example of a flagellum in humans is found
on sperm cells, where it is responsible for propelling the sperm
toward the egg for fertilization.
• The beating of the flagellum allows the sperm to swim through
the female reproductive tract, demonstrating the vital role of this
organelle in human reproduction.
• Like motile cilia, flagella have a 9+2 arrangement of
microtubules and rely on the same dynein motor proteins for
movement.
• The whip-like motion of the flagellum propels the cell forward,
enabling it to travel through fluids, such as water or bodily fluids.
• In single-celled organisms like Euglena or Chlamydomonas,
flagella are essential for locomotion, helping these organisms
move toward light or nutrients in their environment.
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• Flagella are long, whip-like structures that
Structure of Flagella extend from the surface of certain cells,
primarily aiding in locomotion. The basic
structure of a flagellum is divided into three
parts:
• 1. Filament: The filament is the long, outermost
part of the flagellum. It is made of a protein
called flagellin and extends outward from the
cell body, functioning as the propelling
component.
• 2 .Hook: The hook is a short, curved segment
that connects the filament to the basal body. It
acts as a flexible joint, allowing the filament to
rotate and move more efficiently.
• 3.Basal Body: The basal body anchors the
flagellum to the cell. It consists of a series of
rings embedded in the cell membrane and is
responsible for driving the rotational movement
of the flagellum. It contains a 9+2 arrangement
of microtubules, similar to motile cilia, and is
powered by a motor protein called dynein, which
causes the microtubules to slide past each other,
generating the whip-like motion.
• This highly organized structure allows flagella to
• Other Examples of Flagella and Their Roles
• Bacteria:
• Type: Prokaryotic flagella.
• Role: Propel the bacteria through fluids, aiding in motility and helping them move
toward favorable environments (chemotaxis).
• Protozoa (e.g., Euglena):
• Type: Eukaryotic flagella.
• Role: Used for locomotion, allowing the organism to swim toward light or nutrients for
survival.
• Algae (e.g., Chlamydomonas):
• Type: Eukaryotic flagella.
• Role: Facilitate movement in aquatic environments, enabling photosynthetic algae to
reach optimal light conditions.
• Each type of flagellum serves the critical function of locomotion, allowing cells and
organisms to move through various environments, either for reproductive purposes or
survival.
• Let's understand the structure more clearly! - https://youtu.be/eKnFlbrLNOw?
si=9QVQTfsQcS7Xbm2d
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The Dynamic's Extras
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The Importance
in health!
• Given their essential functions, defects in
cilia and flagella can lead to a wide range
of diseases and health issues. For
instance, individuals with Primary Ciliary
Dyskinesia (PCD), a genetic disorder
affecting motile cilia, suffer from chronic
respiratory problems due to the inability to
clear mucus effectively from the lungs.
Similarly, polycystic kidney disease
(PKD) can arise from defects in the
primary cilia of kidney cells, leading to
cyst formation and kidney failure.
• Cilia and flagella are not just fascinating
cellular structures but are also vital to the
health and survival of multicellular
organisms, including humans.
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Major Differences
Features Cilia Flagella
Length Short (5-10 µm) Longer (10-200 µm)
Number Numerous on the cell surface Usually one or a few per cell
Location Present on the entire cell surface Located at one end of the
cell
Movement Coordinated, sweeping or rhythmic motion Undulating or whip-like
motion
Function Helps in locomotion, moving substances Primarily for locomotion
(e.g., respiratory tract) (e.g., sperm cells)
Example Cells lining the respiratory tract, Sperm cells, Euglena,
Paramecium bacteria
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Question time!
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MCQs
1.Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of
cilia?
a) Short and numerous
b) Involved in locomotion and feeding
c) Long and whip-like
d) Present in respiratory tracts
Answer: c) Long and whip-like
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2. What is the primary function of flagella?
a) Sensory reception
b) Locomotion
c) Protein synthesis
d) Energy production
Answer: b) Locomotion
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3. Which structure is common to both cilia and
flagella?
a) 9+2 microtubule arrangement
b) Ribosome
c) Nucleus
d) 8+1 microtubule arrangement
Answer: a) 9+2 microtubule arrangement
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4. Where are cilia commonly found in the human
body?
a) Blood vessels
b) Muscles
c) Respiratory tract
d) Bones
Answer: c) Respiratory tract
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5. What protein is primarily responsible for the
movement of cilia and flagella?
a) Actin
b) Tubulin
c) Dynein
d) Keratin
Answer: c) Dynein
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Short Answer Questions:
1. Describe the main structural difference between
cilia and flagella.
2. Explain how the '9+2' microtubule arrangement
contributes to the function of cilia and flagella.
3. In what way do cilia aid in respiratory health?
4. What role does dynein play in the movement of
cilia and flagella?
5. Why is the presence of cilia important in the
human female reproductive system?
Made By : Aayushi -11th B
Thank You!!
Name : Aayushi
Class : 11th B
Roll No. 01
School : APS JC
