What is this?
A flagellum (say: fla-JELL-um) is like a tiny, whip-like tail that helps some cells, especially bacteria, move around. It spins or wiggles super fast to push the cell through water, acting like a natural propeller or motor.
Key Parts to Explore
Filament
This is the long, thin, visible part that looks like a whip and spins to push the cell forward.
Hook
The hook acts like a flexible elbow, connecting the long filament to the cell's main body.
Basal Body
This is the 'engine room' of the flagellum, anchoring it to the cell and containing the motor that makes it spin.
Rings
These are tiny donut-shaped structures within the basal body that act like bearings, helping the flagellum rotate smoothly.
Did You Know?
Did you know that some tiny bacteria use their flagella to swim at speeds equivalent to a human running 100 miles per hour if scaled up?
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