The Biology of Cilia and Flagella

Book excerpt: The Biology of Cilia and Flagella reviews advances in the study of cilia and flagella since 1928. This book focuses on four main topics—structure of cilia, factors that affect ciliary activity, movement of cilia and flagella, and coordination of beat of cilia. In these topics, this compilation specifically discusses the intracellular structures associated with ciliary bases; viscosity of the medium and ciliary activity, and energy relationships of cilia and flagella. The compounding of synchronously beating cilia, variations in shaft structure, and control of ciliary activity by the organism are also elaborated. This text likewise covers the determination of the rate of beat of cilia and root-fiber systems and coordination of ciliary beat. This publication is suitable for biologists and clinicians of other disciplines researching on the structure and physiology of cilia and flagella.