Video Transcript
In which parts of the body would
you find ciliated cells? (A) The lungs and reproductive
tracts, (B) the mouth and stomach, (C) the large and small intestines, (D) the heart
and blood vessels, (E) the skin and hair.
In biology, structure and function
are closely related concepts. The structure of a particular
component is its shape, size, and organization. The function is then brought about
by the structure. Cells, or other components, that
have specific structures and functions are said to be specialized. A neuron, like the one you can see
here, is an example of a specialized cell. Its branches enable it to conduct
electrical signals from one part of the body to another. Another good example is a sperm
cell. The long tail of a sperm cell helps
it swim toward an egg cell for a fertilization.
Now let us apply what we know about
structure and function to ciliated cells. Cilia can be found on the surface
of some cells as small, hair-like projections. They can help move small particles,
such as dust, in one direction as we can see here. Ciliated cells can be found in the
lungs and nasal cavities, where their function is to transport foreign particles out
of the respiratory tracts. They are also found in the
reproductive tracts and surrounding the fluid found in the spinal column.
Getting back to our question, the
option that correctly identifies the part of the body that contains ciliated cells
is given by answer choice (A): the lungs and reproductive tracts.
