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By Jack Loren
September 14, 2023
Image credit - Google.com
Cilia and flagella are hair-like appendages on the surface of the cells.
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When many hair-like appendages shorter than the cell are found on the surface of the cell, it is called cilia,
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and when there are 1, 2, or 4 hair-like appendages on the cell surface that are relatively longer than the cell. If present, they are called flagella.
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Cilia and flagella are motile, hair like appendages on the free surface of cells.
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Extend out of it. These are cytoplasmic processes, which originate from the ectoplasm and extend out of it.
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These create water current, food currents, act as sensory organs and perform many mechanical functions for the cell.
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There is no clear-cut morphological or physiological difference between cilia and flagella, except that of size.
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When they are few, i.e. 1,2, or 4 in number and longer than a cell, they are called flagella,
but when they are more in number and relatively short they are known as cilia.