Question

What Is Ciliary Movement?

Answer 1

Hint: Cilium is an organelle that is found on eukaryotic cells in the shape of a slender protuberance that projects from the larger cell body. There are two types of cilia which are motile and non-motile or the primary cilia which serve as sensory organelles. In eukaryotes, motile cilia and flagella are structurally similar, although distinctions are sometimes made in function or length.

Complete answer:
Cilia are basically hair-like outgrowth present on the plasma membrane. Cilia play a major role in locomotion and are also involved in mechanoreception. The organisms which have cilia are called ciliates. They use their cilia for feeding and movement.

Cilia comprises a motor protein dynein and microtubules. These comprise tubulin which are linear polymers of globular proteins. Ciliary movement is referred to as the rhythmic movement of cilia, which causes movement of the fluid or the cell. Cilia are found in eukaryotic cells.

An example is in Paramoecium, ciliary movement helps in the movement of the cell which is locomotion as well as in the movement of the food inside the cell. Cilia are present in the epithelial lining such as the fallopian tube, respiratory tract, which helps in the movement of fluid as well as trap any external particles in the mucus.

The diagram below shows Paramoecium with cilia

Note: Cilia is involved in locomotion and sensory functions. They also play a major role in cell cycle and replication and also in the development of humans and animals. Multiple cilia move in a rhythmic motion that keeps the internal passageways free from any mucus or foreign agent. The non-motile cilia found in the photoreceptors of the retina helps in the transport of molecules from one end to the other.