infraciliature

biology

Also known as: kinetidal system

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "infraciliature" refers to a complex system of kinetosomes and associated microtubules and microfibrils found in the outer layer of ciliate protists. This system acts as a skeletal framework for the organism and is unique among protists.1

Cilia, which are short, hairlike filaments, are numerous on the cells of most animals and are the primary means of locomotion for protists in the phylum Ciliophora. These cilia can beat in unison to perform various functions, such as moving ova through oviducts, generating water currents for filter feeders, and clearing debris from respiratory systems. In some protists, single cilia are replaced by compound ciliary organelles like membranelles and cirri, which are used for locomotion and feeding. Cilia and flagella, though similar in structure and function, are distinct from the locomotory structures of prokaryotes.21

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protist
Cilia and flagella
Called the infraciliature, or kinetidal system, it lies principally in the outer, or cortical, layer of the ciliate’s body (only the outermost layer is called the pellicle) and serves primarily as a skeletal system for the organism. The system is composed of an array of single or…
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Called the infraciliature, or kinetidal system, it lies principally in the outer, or cortical, layer of the ciliate’s body (only the outermost layer is called the pellicle) and serves primarily as a skeletal system for the organism. The system is composed of an array of single or…
Read More