What do the hairlike structures on a cell do? Please don't give me a link to another website.
Thank you!
Cilia:
short, hair-like structures that enable movement of cells or aid in the movement of other materials; present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes"
--http://quizlet.com/6210748/molecules-cell-structure-and-functions11-flash-cards/
thanks
You're welcome.
The hairlike structures you are referring to are called cilia. Cilia are found on the surface of many cells in our body, including those lining our respiratory tract, fallopian tubes, and parts of our brain.
Cilia have a couple of important functions. Firstly, they provide mobility to certain cells, allowing them to move and create fluid currents. For example, cilia in the respiratory tract help move mucus and trapped particles out of our airways.
Additionally, cilia play a crucial role in sensory perception. In some cells, such as those in our vision and olfactory systems, cilia are involved in detecting and transmitting signals to our brain. They help us see and smell objects in the environment by having specialized structures called photoreceptors and chemoreceptors respectively.
If you're interested in learning more about cilia, their structure, or their functions, feel free to explore scientific articles or textbooks.