Colorado Cosmetology Written Practice Exam

Slender, hairlike extensions that move with a snake-like motion and allow cells to move are called:

1. Cilia

2. Flagella

3. Lysosomes

4. Pseudopods

The correct answer is: Flagella

The correct answer is flagella. Flagella are long, whip-like structures that extend from the surface of certain cells and enable movement. They operate in a snake-like motion, which helps propel the cell through liquid environments, making them essential for the mobility of certain microorganisms such as sperm cells and some bacteria. Cilia, while also hairlike extensions, are shorter and usually cover the entire surface of a cell rather than extending out significantly like flagella. They typically move in a coordinated, wave-like manner to help move substances across the cell's surface rather than the cell itself. Lysosomes are not involved in movement; they function as the cell's waste disposal units, breaking down unwanted materials. Pseudopods, on the other hand, are temporary projections of the cell membrane used by some cells (like amoebas) for movement and ingestion of food, but they do not possess the slender, hairlike structure described in the question.