flagellum

flagellum
/fleuh jel"euhm/, n., pl. flagella /-jel"euh/, flagellums.
1. Biol. a long, lashlike appendage serving as an organ of locomotion in protozoa, sperm cells, etc.
2. Bot. a runner.
3. Also called clavola. Entomol. (in an antenna) the whiplike portion above the basal joints.
4. a whip or lash.
[1800-10; < L: whip, lash, dim. of flagrum a whip, scourge]

* * *

Hairlike structure that acts mainly as an organelle of movement in the cells of many living organisms.

Characteristic of the protozoan group Mastigophora, flagella also occur on the sex cells of algae, fungi (see fungus), mosses, and slime molds. Flagellar motion causes water currents necessary for respiration and circulation in sponges and cnidarians. Most motile bacteria move by means of flagella. The structures and patterns of movement of flagella in prokaryotes differ from those in eukaryotes. See also cilium.

The bacterium Proteus vulgaris (greatly magnified) showing flagella

© Lee D. Simon
Photo Researchers

* * *

cell
  hairlike structure that acts primarily as an organelle of locomotion in the cells of many living organisms. Flagella, characteristic of the protozoan group Mastigophora, also occur on the gametes of algae, fungi, mosses, slime molds, and animals. Flagellar motion causes water currents necessary for respiration and circulation in sponges and coelenterates. Most motile bacteria move by means of flagella.

      The structures and pattern of movement of prokaryotic (prokaryote) and eukaryotic flagella are different. Eukaryotes (eukaryote) have one to many flagella, which move in a characteristic whiplike manner. The flagella closely resemble the cilium (q.v.) in structure. The core is a bundle of nine pairs of microtubules surrounding two central pairs of microtubules (the so-called nine-plus-two arrangement); each microtubule is composed of the protein tubulin. The coordinated sliding of these microtubules confers movement. The base of the flagellum is anchored to the cell by a basal body.

      Bacterial flagella are helically shaped structures containing the protein flagellin. The base of the flagellum (the hook) near the cell surface is attached to the basal body enclosed in the cell envelope. The flagellum rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, in a motion similar to that of a propeller.

      The movement of eukaryotic flagella depends on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for energy, while that of the prokaryotes derives its energy from the proton-motive force, or ion gradient, across the cell membrane.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • FLAGELLUM — lemma Mart. l. 14. Apopn. Epigr. 55. Proficies nibil, hoc caedas licet usqueve flagello, Si tibi purpureo de grege currit equus. Ubi de equis purpureae factionis in Circensibus. Nempe flagellum aurigarum est. Unde Lunae auriganti id adscriptum ad …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • flagellum — ● flagellum nom masculin Sceptre égyptien caractérisé par trois lanières liées ensemble, figuré dans la main du pharaon et dans celle d Osiris. 1. flagelle [flaʒɛl] ou flagellum [flaʒelɔm; flaʒɛllɔm] n. m. ÉTYM. 1878; lat. flagellum « …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • flagellum — (n.) 1852, in reference to microbes, from L. flagellum whip, scourge, dim. of flagrum whip, from PIE root *bhlag to strike …   Etymology dictionary

  • Flagellum — Fla*gel lum, n.; pl. E. {Flagellums}, L. {Flagella}. [L., a whip. See {Flagellate}, v. t.] 1. (Bot.) A young, flexible shoot of a plant; esp., the long trailing branch of a vine, or a slender branch in certain mosses. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flagellum — flagellum. См. жгутик. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Flagellum — (lat.), 1) (röm. Ant.), lederner Riemen, in dessen Ende Blei od. Eisenstücke eingebunden waren; damit wurden Verbrecher gezüchtigt; 2) (Bot., Ausläufer), ein langer fadenförmiger Trieb, der oben aus der Wurzel entspringt u. unter der Erde… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Flagellum — (lat.), Geißel, s. Flimmer; in der Botanik soviel wie Schößling (s.d.) …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Flagellum — vgl. Flagelle …   Das Wörterbuch medizinischer Fachausdrücke

  • flagellum — ► NOUN (pl. flagella) Biology ▪ a microscopic whip like appendage which enables many protozoans, bacteria, and spermatozoa to swim. ORIGIN Latin, little whip …   English terms dictionary

  • flagellum — [flə jel′əm] n. pl. flagella [flə jel′ə] or flagellums [L, a whip: see FLAGELLATE] 1. a whip 2. Biol. a whiplike part or process of some cells, esp. of certain bacteria, protozoans, etc., that is an organ of locomotion or produces a current in… …   English World dictionary

  • Flagellum — For the insect anatomical structure, see Antenna (biology). For the flagella of male Solifugae, see Solifugae. Flagella Code TH H1.00.01.1.01032 A flagellum ( …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”