LOPHOTRICHOUS Meaning and
Definition
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Lophotrichous is an adjective that describes the arrangement or positioning of flagella or cilia in a bacterium or other microorganism. The term is derived from the Greek words "lophos" meaning crest or tuft, and "trichos" meaning hair or filament.
In organisms with a lophotrichous arrangement, the flagella or cilia are found in tufts or clusters at one or both ends of the cell. These tufts, also known as polar tufts, generally promote movement and enable the microorganisms to swim or propel themselves through their environment. The number of flagella or cilia in the tuft can vary depending on the species and its specific requirements for movement.
Lophotrichous organisms benefit from their flagella or cilia arrangement as it provides them with enhanced motility and directionality in their movements. This particular organization allows for greater precision and control in navigating towards favorable conditions or away from detrimental ones. The tufted nature of their appendages provides increased thrust, allowing these microorganisms to move more efficiently.
The lophotrichous arrangement is commonly observed in various types of bacteria, such as some species of Proteobacteria and Spirochaetes. Understanding the organization and distribution of flagella or cilia in microorganisms is essential in studying their motility and understanding their behavior and ecology.
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Having cilia or flagella arranged in one or more tufts.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for LOPHOTRICHOUS
- lophotrichows
- lophotrichots
- lophotrichou3
- lophotrichouc
- lophotrichouq
- lophotrichour
- lophoetrichoeus
- lowphotrichous
- l ophotrichous
- loph otrichous
- lopho trichous
- lophot richous
- lophotr ichous
- lophotri chous
- lophotric hous
- lophotrich ous
- lophotricho us
- lophotrichou s
Etymology of LOPHOTRICHOUS
The word "lophotrichous" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "lophos" meaning "crest" or "tuft" and "thrix" meaning "hair" or "strand". The term is used to describe certain types of bacteria, particularly those that have flagella (whip-like appendages) arranged in tufts or clusters at one or both ends of the cell.
