Plural of cilium.
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cilia pl of CILIUM
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cil·ia (silґe-ə) sing. cilґium [L.] 1. [TA] eyelashes: the hairs growing on the edges of the eyelids. 2. minute vibratile, hairlike processes that project from the free surface of a cell and are composed of nine pairs of microtubules arrayed around a central pair, anchored to the cellular cortex by the basal bodies. Dynein-powered sliding of the outer microtubules relative to one another causes the cilia to move in rhythmic beats (ciliary beats) that move the cell around in its environment or move fluid or mucous films over the cell surface. See also flagellum and mucociliary clearance.
Electron micrograph of ciliated columnar pseudostratified epithelium in the respiratory tract.
Medical dictionary. 2011.