Cilia, essential for the senses

2007/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Anatomia/Fisiologia

The cilio, the filamentous structure that surrounds many cells, has important functions in smell, hearing and sight. Researchers at the University of Baltimore have now linked cilia to another meaning: touch. They have seen that they are essential to detect heat or vibration. In their tests with humans, they have seen that those who do not have silos in good condition, such as those caused by Bardet-Bield syndrome, have problems perceiving both temperature and a tuning fork.