axoneme
Quick Summary
The axoneme is the fibrillar bundle found within a flagellum or cilium. It typically consists of nine pairs of microtubules arranged in a ring around a central pair of microtubules, a structure often referred to as the "nine-plus-two" arrangement. This intricate structure is crucial for the movement of these cellular appendages. Microtubules, composed of the protein tubulin, are the building blocks of the axoneme, and their coordinated sliding action enables motility. The axoneme is anchored to the cell by a basal body. This fundamental biological structure plays a vital role in locomotion for many single-celled organisms and in the movement of cells and substances within multicellular organisms.123
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