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Cilia and Flagella definitions

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  • Cilia
    Short, hair-like organelles found in groups on the plasma membrane, beating back and forth to move cells or surrounding fluid.
  • Flagella
    Long, usually singular organelles with a wave-like spinning motion, propelling cells such as sperm through their environment.
  • Microtubules
    Cylindrical protein structures forming the core scaffold of cilia and flagella, arranged in specific patterns for movement.
  • 9+2 Arrangement
    Structural pattern with nine outer microtubule doublets and a central pair, characteristic of cilia and flagella axonemes.
  • Axoneme
    Central shaft of cilia and flagella, composed of microtubules and associated proteins, enabling movement.
  • Basal Body
    Microtubule-based structure at the base of cilia and flagella, organizing their assembly and anchoring them to the cell.
  • Outer Doublets
    Nine pairs of microtubules forming the outer ring in the axoneme, essential for structural integrity and movement.
  • Central Pair
    Two single microtubules located at the center of the axoneme, surrounded by the nine outer doublets.
  • A Tubule
    Complete microtubule within each outer doublet, containing 13 protofilaments and serving as the main scaffold.
  • B Tubule
    Incomplete microtubule fused to the A tubule in each doublet, containing 10 or 11 protofilaments.
  • Nexin
    Protein linking adjacent outer doublets, preventing excessive sliding and enabling bending during movement.
  • Dynein
    Motor protein attached to microtubules, using ATP to generate force for bending and movement of cilia and flagella.
  • Sliding Microtubule Model
    Mechanism explaining how dynein-driven sliding of microtubules, constrained by nexin, results in bending and movement.
  • Intraflagellar Transport
    Process moving molecules along the length of flagella, distinct from the bending mechanism responsible for movement.
  • Interdoublet Links
    Structures connecting adjacent outer doublets, crucial for coordinated movement and structural stability.