cilia
Definition
- Noun (plural; singular: ):
- In anatomy: "cilia" refers to the small, hair-like structures that line the surface of certain cells, especially in the respiratory tract, and beat rhythmically to move mucus or other substances.
- In biology (microbiology): "cilia" are short, microscopic, hair-like projections on the surface of many single-celled organisms (e.g., Paramecium), used for locomotion or feeding.
- In ophthalmology: "cilia" also means the eyelashes (the hairs growing on the edge of the eyelid).
Usage Examples
- Anatomy (respiratory): (The tiny hair-like structures move to clean the airway.)
- Biology (microorganisms): (The hair-like projections propel the organism.)
- Ophthalmology (eyelashes): (The eyelashes were checked.)
Advanced Usage
"Ciliary" (adj): relating to or involving cilia.
- Ciliary movement is essential for clearing respiratory passages. (The motion of cilia is crucial.)
"Ciliopathy" (n): a genetic disorder caused by defects in the structure or function of cilia.
- Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a type of ciliopathy that impairs mucus clearance. (A disease of malfunctioning cilia.)
Variants and Related Words
Cilium (n, singular): a single hair-like structure.
- Each cilium has a complex internal structure called the axoneme. (One individual hair-like projection.)
Ciliated (adj): having or covered with cilia.
- The bronchial epithelium is ciliated to facilitate mucus transport. (The lining has cilia.)
Synonyms
- Flagellum (n, plural ): a longer, whip-like appendage used for movement in some cells (distinct from cilia, but sometimes confused).
- Eyelash (n): specifically the hairs on the eyelid (synonym for the anatomical meaning in ophthalmology).
Related Idioms
- There are no common English idioms containing the word "cilia" due to its technical nature. However, in biological contexts, the phrase "ciliary beat" is used to describe the rhythmic motion of cilia.
- The coordinated ciliary beat propels mucus upward. (The rhythmic motion of cilia.)
Phrasal Verbs
- No phrasal verbs exist for "cilia" as it is a noun with no verb form. The verb "to ciliate" (rare) means to form or produce cilia, but it is not a phrasal verb.