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HistologyTypes of tissuesIntroduction to cells and tissuesCilia
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HistologyTypes of tissuesIntroduction to cells and tissuesCilia

Cilia

Author: Gordana Sendić, MD •
Last reviewed: October 30, 2023
Reading time: 1 minute

Recommended video: Eukaryotic cell [18:45]
Overview of the cell and its contents.
Cilia
1/5
Synonyms: none

The cilium (plural: cilia) is a microtubule-based organelle that projects from the cellular membrane of many cells. Cilia can be divided into two types: motile and non-motile.

Motile cilia sway in a wave-like motion in order to generate fluid movement. These types of cilia are found on the surface of cells such as the epithelial cells of upper respiratory and reproductive tract.

Non-motile, or primary cilia do not have the ability to move, and mainly function as cellular antennas to regulate signaling pathways and maintain cell homeostasis. Examples of nonmotile cilia are found on the tubular epithelial cells of the kidney and photoreceptors of the retina.

Terminology English: Cilium (plural: Cilia) 
Latin: Cilium (plural: Cilia)
Types Motile and non-motile cilia 
Examples Motile: Epithelial cells of upper respiratory tract, uterine tube and inner ear
Non-motile: Epithelial cells of the kidney, photoreceptors of retina
Function Motile: Generate fluid movement; remove foreign particles from the epithelial surface
Non-motile: Cellular antennas that transport signals from the ECM to the intracellular space and maintain cell homeostasis

Continue learning about the structure of the eukaryotic cell in ste study unit below: 

Eukaryotic cell Explore study unit

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

Ostrowski, L. E., Dutcher, S. K., & Lo, C. W. (2011). Cilia and models for studying structure and function. Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, 8(5), 423–429. https://doi.org/10.1513/pats.2...

Drake RL, Vogl AW, Mitchell WMA. Gray’s anatomy for students. 4th ed. 2020.

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