Image

The primary cilium

Primary cilium: diagram, microscope, view: optical and TEM

The primary cilium (left) is a small organelle that acts like an antenna, co-ordinating information about the cell’s surroundings. The primary cilium is only just big enough to be viewed through an optical microscope (centre), but its structure can be studied in detail by using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) (right).

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato. Micrographs courtesy of Tony Poole
Published: 29 February 2012,Updated: 29 February 2012Size: 276.17 KB