Cilia are made and assembled from a basal body on the cell surface.
The formation of a cilium is a complex process, and involves various structures. According to the reference, the cilium's assembly begins at the basal body, which resides on the cell surface. From this point, the ciliary rootlet forms ahead of the transition plate and transition zone. Within the transition zone, the microtubule structure shifts from triplets to the characteristic microtubule doublets found in the axoneme.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
- Basal Body: Serves as the foundation for cilium construction on the cell surface.
- Ciliary Rootlet: Extends from the basal body, providing structural support.
- Transition Plate and Zone: Regions where the microtubule structure transitions from triplets to doublets.
- Axoneme: The core structure of the cilium, comprised of microtubule doublets.
In summary, the process of making cilia is a stepwise process that starts at the basal body on the cell surface, where the components assemble to form the complex structure of a cilium.
