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  • Current: Feb 28, 2021

Flagellum (pl. flagella)

Flagellum is a long, hair-like structure used for the movement. Bacterial flagella consist of a basal body, hook, and filament, and are anchored to the membrane structures of the cell (plasma membrane, peptidoglycan layer, and outer membrane).

Flagellum

Some prokaryotic cells also have pili, protein filaments that project from the surface of the cell.

Bacterial body structure

Definitions in the literature

  • a long, hair-like, motile extension of the plasma membrane; in eukaryotic cells, it contains microtubules arranged in a 9 + 2 pattern. The movement of flagella propels some cells through fluids. [1].
  • long, slender structure used for movements [2].