Mechanism of Movements

Amoeboid movement derives its name from the locomotion of amoeba. It involves extensive changes in cell shape, flow of cytoplasm and pseudopodial activity. Ciliary locomotion is the characteristic way in which ciliated protozoans such as Paramecium move. However, cilia are found in all animal phyla and serve a variety of functions. For example, cilia set up currents that effect movement through the water vascular systems of echinoderms. The respiratory tract of air breathing vertebrates is lined by the ciliated cells that slowly remove foreign particles that lodge on their surfaces. The sperms move with the aid of tail which in principle acts like a cilium. Muscular movement is the fundamental mechanism used in the majority of animals for a variety of movements. Muscle has the ability to exert a force by shortening, called 'muscle contraction'. This force is used for a variety of purposes. In this unit you will read about mechanism of amoeboid movement and ciliary movement structure of the muscle and the mechanism of muscle contraction.