File:Flagellum diagram.png

Summary

English: A Gram-negative bacterial flagellum. A flagellum (plural: flagella) is a long, slender projection from the cell body, whose function is to propel a unicellular or small multicellular organism. The depicted type of flagellum is found in bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, and rotates like a propeller when the bacterium swims.

The bacterial movement can be divided in 2 kinds: run, resulting from a counterclockwise rotation of the flagellum, and tumbling, from a clockwise rotation of the flagellum. Français : Flagelle de bactérie Gram-négative. Le flagelle est une projection longue et fine hors du corps cellulaire, dont la fonction est de propulser l'organisme. Ce type de flagelle est présent dans des bactéries comme Escherichia coli et Salmonella, et tourne comme une hélice quand la bactérie se déplace. Le flagelle peut provoquer deux types de déplacement selon son sens de rotation.

Copyright status

This image has been released into the public domain by its author, LadyofHats. This applies worldwide. LadyofHats grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

Source

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Flagellum_base_diagram.svg