While the provided reference focuses on bacterial flagella, specifically mentioning Vibrio cholerae and Campylobacter jejuni, it's important to clarify that these are examples of flagella in bacteria that enter the body, rather than flagella that are part of the human body itself (with one exception listed below). Therefore, I will address the initial question with the understanding that the requestor means within the scope of human biology.
The best example of a flagellum in the human body is the sperm cell.
Here's a breakdown:
- Sperm: The tail of the sperm cell is a flagellum. This flagellum's whip-like motion enables the sperm to swim through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize an egg.
While technically not "in" the human body, it is useful to understand from the provided document that other organisms use flagella.
- Bacteria Using Flagella Inside the Body: Vibrio cholerae and Campylobacter jejuni are examples of bacteria that use flagella. According to the reference, these bacteria utilize multiple flagella to propel themselves through the mucus lining of the small intestine to reach the epithelium and produce toxin.
In summary, while bacteria use flagella to navigate within the body and cause illness, the best example of a flagellum as part of human biology is the tail of the sperm cell.
