What is the main function of the cilia in an animal cell?
A cilium is a microscopic hairlike process extending from the surface of a cell. Capable of rhythmic motion, it acts in unison with other cilia to cause the movement of the cell for example in single celled animals such as Paramecium, or the surrounding medium (see below). Various ciliated cells in animals – Many epithelial surfaces in the body are ciliated – covered in cells which contain tiny hair-like structures beating in synchrony to move secretions or objects around. Examples include ciliated epithelia in the vesciles of the brain which circulate the cerebrospinal fluid, and in the oviduct which move the ova from the ovary to the uterus. In the respiratory tract, ciliated epithelial cells sweep clean dust and germs trapped in mucus secreted by “goblet cells” in the epithelium.
