Definition: Populations of thin, motile processes found covering the surface of ciliates (CILIOPHORA) or the free surface of the cells making up ciliated EPITHELIUM. Each cilium arises from a basic granule in the superficial layer of CYTOPLASM. The movement of cilia propels ciliates through the liquid in which they live. The movement of cilia on a ciliated epithelium serves to propel a surface layer of mucus or fluid. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)
IM GEN only; NIM when specific organ is IM; A 11 qualif except /cytol; /genet permitted; do not confuse with the protozoa CILIATA see CILIOPHORA or with the Latin plural of EYELASHES
See AlsoEpithelium