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Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Observation of the Ciliary Movement of Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells Ex Vivo

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Published on: July 13, 2015

Unusual ciliary abnormalities in three 9/11 response workers.

James T McMahon¹, Rizwan Aslam, Stephen E Schell

¹Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology

|March 5, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Response workers exposed to 9/11 toxins developed respiratory illnesses with unusual ciliary abnormalities. These findings suggest a new class of primary ciliary dyskinesia triggered by environmental factors.

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High-speed Video Microscopy Analysis for First-line Diagnosis of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Observation of the Ciliary Movement of Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells Ex Vivo

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Nasal Brushing Sampling and Processing Using Digital High Speed Ciliary Videomicroscopy – Adaptation for the COVID-19 Pandemic

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High-speed Video Microscopy Analysis for First-line Diagnosis of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

High-speed Video Microscopy Analysis for First-line Diagnosis of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Published on: January 19, 2022

Area of Science:

Environmental Health
Cell Biology
Pulmonology

Background:

Thousands of 9/11 response workers experienced significant exposure to airborne toxins and carcinogens.
Respiratory illnesses are a common health consequence reported among these workers post-exposure.

Observation:

Three response workers presented with respiratory symptoms and underwent ciliary biopsy.
Analysis revealed impaired ciliary motility in two patients and distinct ultrastructural abnormalities in all three.

Findings:

Abnormalities included triangular disarray of axonemal microtubules and homogeneously dense cores replacing axonemes.
Specific patterns observed: triangular axonemes, and cilia with triangular to pentagonal shapes.
These ultrastructural changes correlated with functional ciliary and respiratory impairments.

Implications:

The described ciliary abnormalities may represent a novel form of primary ciliary dyskinesia.
This condition could have a genetic basis with environmental triggers influencing cellular phenotype.
Further research is warranted to understand the pathogenesis and long-term effects of these environmentally induced ciliary defects.