Cell Component
cilium

cil·i·um [ sil-ee-uhm ]
Subclass of:
Cell Surface Extensions
Etymology:
Latin cilium = eyelid
Hence an eye-lash or any hair-like process, especially on cells and protozoa. The plural, cilia, is more frequently used.
Hence an eye-lash or any hair-like process, especially on cells and protozoa. The plural, cilia, is more frequently used.
Definitions related to cilia:
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Populations of thin, motile processes found covering the surface of ciliates (CILIOPHORA) or the free surface of the cells making up ciliated EPITHELIUM. Each cilium arises from a basic granule in the superficial layer of CYTOPLASM. The movement of cilia propels ciliates through the liquid in which they live. The movement of cilia on a ciliated epithelium serves to propel a surface layer of mucus or fluid. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Small, hairlike structures on the surface of some cells.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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(cilium) A specialized eukaryotic organelle that consists of a filiform extrusion of the cell surface and of some cytoplasmic parts. Each cilium is largely bounded by an extrusion of the cytoplasmic (plasma) membrane, and contains a regular longitudinal array of microtubules, anchored to a basal body.Gene Ontology DictionaryGene Ontology Consortium, 2021
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(cilium) An organelle that protrudes outward from the cell body. It consists of a specialized arrangement of 9 doublet microtubules in a ring with or without a core of 2 microtubules and is enclosed in a plasma membrane coat. Motile cilia contain the motor protein dynein.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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