cilium

The protist Paramecium, which has numerous cilia for locomotion

A short, hair-like cellular appendage (up to 10 microns long) specialized for locomotion. Cilia are present, usually in large groups, on the surface of many cells, notably certain protozoans, called ciliataes, and some types of vertebrate epithelium. They beat to produce cell movement or create a current in fluid surrounding a cell. Cilia and eukaryotic flagella have the same structure and are collectively called undulipodia.

Related category

• CELL BIOLOGY

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