Question

What are cilia in the human body?

Answer 1

Cilia:

1. These are microscopic hair-like cytoskeletal organelles that are present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
2. These play a role in both movement as well as sensation.

In sensation:

1. Cilia present in the olfactory tract are covered by nasal mucus and are crucial for sensation.
2. They sense and receive olfactory molecules and convert these to neural impulses that are transferred to the brain.

In movement:

1. The fallopian tubes in the female reproductive system are lined by cilia.
2. These assist in delivering the ovum released by the ovary to the ampullary region where the ovum fuses with the sperm.