Anatomy

Cilia

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)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

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)

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Synonyms

13 entry terms
  • Cilium
  • Motile Cilia
  • Motile Cilium
  • Nodal Cilia
  • Nodal Cilium
  • Primary Cilia
  • Primary Cilium
  • Cilia, Motile
  • Cilia, Nodal
  • Cilia, Primary
  • Cilium, Motile
  • Cilium, Nodal
  • Cilium, Primary

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

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History Note

65(64)

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Cilia. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D002923. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D002923
  2. Cilia. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilium
  3. Cilia. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180436