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🧬 Microvilli vs Cilia — Why They’re Found in Specific Systems
📌 Microvilli: Where & Why?
Found in: Digestive, Urinary, and Reproductive Tracts
Function: Absorption and surface area enhancement.
Why only here? These systems need to absorb nutrients (digestive), reabsorb water/ions (urinary), or secrete/absorb substances (reproductive). Microvilli are microscopic finger-like projections of the plasma membrane that maximize surface area for efficient absorption.
🔬 Example: Small intestine epithelial cells are densely packed with microvilli for nutrient absorption.
🌬️ Cilia: Where & Why?
Found in: Respiratory and Reproductive Tracts
Function: Movement of mucus, fluid, or gametes.
Why only here? Cilia are hair-like motile structures that beat rhythmically to move substances along the surface. In the respiratory tract, they push mucus and trapped particles out. In the female reproductive tract, they help in egg transport through fallopian tubes.
🔬 Example: Tracheal epithelium has cilia that sweep out dust and pathogens.
🧠 Assertion & Reason Style Question (NEET-style)
Assertion (A): Microvilli are found in epithelial cells of the digestive tract.
Reason (R): Microvilli help in absorption by increasing the surface area of the plasma membrane.
- Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
- Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- A is true but R is false.
- A is false but R is true.
✅ Correct Answer: A
✔️ Both statements are true and directly linked — microvilli increase the surface area, enabling higher absorption which is crucial in the digestive tract.
🧪 Summary Table
| Feature | Microvilli | Cilia |
|---|---|---|
| Found In | Digestive, Urinary, Reproductive | Respiratory, Reproductive |
| Function | Absorption (↑ surface area) | Movement (mucus, ovum) |
| Motion | Non-motile | Motile |
| Structure | Actin filament core | Microtubule (9+2) core |