Force Exerted by a Single Cilium of <i>Mytilus Edulis</i>. I

Abstract

ABSTRACT An important step toward the understanding of the beating mechanism in ciliary movement would be a quantitative analysis of the mechanical properties of the cilium. As a matter of fact, several measurements have been reported concerning the work done by ciliated tissues (Maxwell, 1905) or the force exerted by the whole organism in ciliate protozoa (Jensen, 1893) and flagellated bacteria (von Angerer, 1919). The present paper will deal with the force which a single molluscan cilium can produce during its effective stroke.