Bacterial flagella

Flagellum
Structure of bacterial flagellum.
SEM image of flagellated Chlamydomonas sp. (10000×)
Identifiers
TH	H1.00.01.1.01032
FMA	67472
Anatomical terminology []

A flagellum (/fləˈdʒɛləm/; plural: flagella) is a lash-like appendage that protrudes from the cell body of certain bacterial and eukaryotic cells. The similar structure in the archaea functions in the same way but is structurally different and has been termed the archaellum (as of 2012). The word in Latin means whip. The primary role of the flagellum is locomotion, but it also often has function as a sensory organelle, being sensitive to chemicals and temperatures outside the cell. Flagella are organelles defined by function rather than structure. Large differences occur between different types of flagella; the prokaryotic and eukaryotic flagella differ greatly in protein composition, structure, and mechanism of propulsion. However, both can be used for swimming.

An example of a flagellated bacterium is the ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori, which uses multiple flagella to propel itself through the mucus lining to reach the stomach epithelium. An example of a eukaryotic flagellate cell is the mammalian sperm cell, which uses its flagellum to propel itself through the female reproductive tract. Eukaryotic flagella are structurally identical to eukaryotic cilia, although distinctions are sometimes made according to function or length.Fimbriae and pili are also thin appendages, but have different functions and are usually smaller.

Three types of flagella have so far been distinguished: bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic.