Cilia vs Flagella- Definition and 19 Major Differences

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Cilia and flagella are cytoplasmic processes extending from the cell surface. The cell organelles are similar but are differentiated based on their size, number, function and/or mode of beating.

Differences between cilia and flagella

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Here are the key differences between cilia and flagella

S.N.

Character

Cilia

Flagella
1.       Definition Cilia are short, hair like appendages extending from the surface of a living cell. Flagella are long, threadlike appendages on the surface of a living cell.
2.       Etymology From Latin word for “eyelash”. From Latin word for “whip”.
3.       Singular form Cilium Flagellum
4.       Found in Eukaryotic cells Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
5.       Distribution In protozoans of the class ciliate and ciliated epithelium of the metazoan, in larva of certain platyhelminthes, echinodermata, mollusc and annelid. In some bacterial cells, protozoans of the class Flagellata, choanocyte of the sponges, spermatzoa of the metazoan and among plants in the algae and gamete cells.
6.       Length Short and hair like organelle (5-10µ) Long wipe like organelle (150µ)
7.       Thickness Greater diameter than flagella. They are around 0.3 to 0.5 um thick. Flagella attached to the margin of the bacteria are around 20-25 nm (0.02 to 0.025 um) thin.
8.       Number Numerous Lesser in Number.

Prokaryotes can have more than one flagella.
9.       Density Many (hundreds) per cell Few (less than 10) per cell
10.    Position on cell Occurs throughout the cell surface. Presence at one end or two ends or all over the surface.
11.    Organization Possess a central bundle of microtubules, called the axoneme, in which nine outer doublet microtubules surround a central pair of singlet microtubule. Characteristic “9 + 2” arrangement of microtubules is seen when the axoneme is viewed in cross section with the electron microscope.  Eukaryotic flagella are remarkably similar in their organization to cilia.

Prokaryotic flagella are simpler structures made up of flagellin (53KDa subunit).
12.    Beating synchronization Cilia beat in a coordinated rhythm either simultaneously (synchronous) or one after the other (metachronic). They beat independent of each other.
13.    Motion type Rotational, like a motor, very fast moving. Rotary movement in prokaryotes.

Bending movement in eukaryotes.
14.    Swimming motion Cilia moves like the breast stroke Flagella move in an oar-like style.
15.    Energy Production Cilia use ‘kinesin’ which has an ATPase activity that produces energy to perform the movement. Flagella are powered by the proton-motive force by the plasma membrane in prokaryotes.

ATP-driven in eukaryotes.
16.    Types Two types of cilia are found in eukaryotic cells: primary/non-motile cilia and motile cilia.  Three types of flagella are identified: bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic.
17.    Purpose Helps in locomotion or move substances along the outer surface of the cell (for example, the cilia of cells lining the fallopian tubes that move the ovum toward the uterus, or cilia lining the cells of the respiratory tract that move particulate matter toward the throat that mucus has trapped), feeding circulation, aeration, etc. Help mainly in locomotion only.
18.    Functions Except for sperms, cilia in mammalian systems not for locomotion. Extend from the plasma membrane and are used to move an entire cell.
19.    Examples Cilia present in Paramecium Flagella present in Salmonella

References

  1. https://www.biologyexams4u.com/2012/10/difference-between-prokaryotic-flagella.html#.W2MZODozbIV
  2. https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/mhccmajorsbio/chapter/4-6-flagella-and-cilia/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21698/
  4. https://www.biologyexams4u.com/2012/10/difference-between-cilia-and-flagella_10.html#.W2MTjTozbIU
  5. https://microbiologyinfo.com/differences-between-cilia-and-flagella/
  6. https://www.diffen.com/difference/Cilia_vs_Flagella
  7. https://biologywise.com/difference-between-cilia-flagella
  8. http://pediaa.com/difference-between-cilia-and-flagella/

About Author

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Sagar Aryal

Sagar Aryal is a microbiologist and a scientific blogger. He is doing his Ph.D. at the Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. He was awarded the DAAD Research Grant to conduct part of his Ph.D. research work for two years (2019-2021) at Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarbrucken, Germany. Sagar is interested in research on actinobacteria, myxobacteria, and natural products. He is the Research Head of the Department of Natural Products, Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences (KRIBS), Lalitpur, Nepal. Sagar has more than ten years of experience in blogging, content writing, and SEO. Sagar was awarded the SfAM Communications Award 2015: Professional Communicator Category from the Society for Applied Microbiology (Now: Applied Microbiology International), Cambridge, United Kingdom (UK). Sagar is also the ASM Young Ambassador to Nepal for the American Society for Microbiology since 2023 onwards.

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