Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles MCQs with step-by-step solutions (36 questions). Part of Cell: The Unit of Life. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · easy · theory
Cilia and flagella are hair-like extensions of the cell membrane covering a core of microtubules called the:
A. Axoneme ✓ Correct
B. Centromere
C. Cristae
D. Basal body
Solution: The axoneme has a 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules and arises from a basal body.
Q2 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · easy · theory
The network of filamentous proteins (microtubules, microfilaments) that gives shape and enables movement is the:
A. Cell wall
B. Cytoskeleton ✓ Correct
C. Glycocalyx
D. Endomembrane system
Solution: The cytoskeleton provides mechanical support, shape, motility and intracellular transport.
Q3 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium · theory
The characteristic microtubular arrangement of the axoneme in cilia/flagella is:
A. 9 + 2 (nine peripheral doublets + two central) ✓ Correct
B. 9 + 3
C. 9 + 0
D. 11 + 2
Solution: The 9 + 2 pattern (nine peripheral doublets and two central singlets) is diagnostic of cilia/flagella.
Q4 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium · theory
Centrioles show a ______ microtubular arrangement and form the ______ of a dividing cell:
A. 11 + 2; nucleoid
B. 9 + 3; grana
C. 9 + 0 (triplets); spindle poles ✓ Correct
D. 9 + 2; cristae
Solution: Centrioles (in the centrosome) have a 9 + 0 triplet arrangement and organise the spindle fibres and basal bodies.
Q5 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · hard · theory
Which correctly distinguishes cilia from flagella?
A. Both have a 9 + 0 axoneme
B. Cilia are numerous and short (coordinated beat); flagella are few and long (undulating) ✓ Correct
C. Flagella are more numerous per cell
D. Cilia are long, flagella short
Solution: Both have a 9 + 2 axoneme; cilia are many/short, flagella few/long, differing in number, length and beat pattern.
Q6 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · hard · theory
The centrosome/centrioles function in animal cells primarily to:
A. Synthesise ATP
B. Store lipids
C. Organise the microtubules of the spindle apparatus during cell division ✓ Correct
D. Digest waste
Solution: The centrosome nucleates spindle microtubules; centrioles also give rise to basal bodies of cilia/flagella.
Q7 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · easy · numerical
The core of a eukaryotic cilium or flagellum, called the axoneme, typically shows an arrangement described as:
A. 9 + 0, with nine peripheral triplets and no central tubule
B. 9 + 2, with nine peripheral doublets surrounding two central microtubules ✓ Correct
C. 11 + 2, with eleven peripheral singlets and two central tubules
D. 9 + 3, with nine doublets around three central tubules
Solution: The eukaryotic axoneme has nine peripheral microtubule doublets and one central pair (9 + 2 pattern); centrioles by contrast show a 9 + 0 pattern of triplets.
Q8 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · easy · numerical
A centriole shows a cartwheel organisation. Its peripheral fibrils are arranged as:
A. Eleven peripheral triplets with two central tubules
B. Nine peripheral doublets with two central tubules (9 + 2)
C. Nine peripheral singlets with a central hub (9 + 1)
D. Nine evenly spaced peripheral triplets with no central tubule (9 + 0) ✓ Correct
Solution: Each centriole has nine evenly spaced peripheral fibrils of tubulin triplets and lacks central tubules — the 9 + 0 cartwheel pattern.
Q9 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · easy · numerical
The cytoskeleton of a eukaryotic cell is a network made of:
A. Only DNA and histone fibres
B. Only cellulose microfibrils
C. Microtubules, microfilaments (actin) and intermediate filaments ✓ Correct
D. Chitin plates and peptidoglycan strands
Solution: The cytoskeleton is composed of proteinaceous filaments — microtubules, actin microfilaments and intermediate filaments — providing shape, mechanical support and motility.
Q10 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium · numerical
Basal bodies of cilia/flagella and centrioles are structurally similar because both:
A. Are bounded by a double membrane
B. Contain their own circular DNA
C. Have a 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules
D. Share the 9 + 0 triplet arrangement and act as microtubule-organising centres ✓ Correct
Solution: A cilium/flagellum arises from a basal body, which like the centriole has the 9 + 0 arrangement and organises microtubules; neither is membrane-bound nor contains DNA.
Q11 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium · numerical
Assertion (A): The two centrioles in a centrosome usually lie perpendicular to each other. Reason (R): During cell division the centrioles form the spindle fibres that separate chromosomes.
A. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A ✓ Correct
B. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
C. A is false but R is true
D. A is true but R is false
Solution: Centrioles do lie perpendicular to each other in a centrosome, and they do organise spindle fibres in division — both are true, but their perpendicular arrangement is not caused by spindle formation, so R does not explain A.
Q12 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium · numerical
Which statement correctly distinguishes the movement produced by cilia from that of a flagellum?
A. Cilia move like oars with coordinated back-and-forth strokes, whereas a flagellum shows undulating whip-like movement ✓ Correct
B. A flagellum beats in coordinated rows while cilia produce a corkscrew rotation
C. Cilia are longer and fewer while flagella are short and numerous
D. Both cilia and flagella move only by rotating like a bacterial motor
Solution: Numerous short cilia beat like oars in coordinated strokes to move fluid/particles, while the few long flagella move in an undulating whip-like fashion to propel the cell.
Q13 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium · numerical
In an axoneme cross-section, the peripheral doublets are connected to the central pair by structures called radial spokes, and adjacent doublets are linked by:
A. The basal plate
B. Peptidoglycan cross-links
C. Interdoublet (nexin) bridges ✓ Correct
D. The central sheath
Solution: Adjacent peripheral doublets in the axoneme are held together by interdoublet linkers (nexin bridges), while radial spokes connect them to the central sheath around the central pair.
Q14 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Cytoskeleton helps in
A. Maintenance of shape of cell
B. Providing mobility to cell
C. All of these ✓ Correct
D. Mechanical support to cell
Solution: The cytoskeleton is an elaborate network of filamentous proteinaceous structures in the cytoplasm that provides mechanical support, motility and maintains the shape of the cell.
Q15 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
The central part of the proximal region of the centriole is also proteinaceous and is called
A. Linkers
B. Spokes
C. Hub ✓ Correct
D. Doublet
Solution: The central proteinaceous part of the proximal region of a centriole is called the hub, which is connected to the peripheral triplets by radial spokes made of protein.
Q16 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Both cilium and flagellum emerge from a centriole-like structure which is called
A. Basal granules
B. Basal ganglion
C. Basal bodies ✓ Correct
D. Basal lamina
Solution: Both cilium and flagellum are covered by the plasma membrane and arise from centriole-like structures called basal bodies.
Q17 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · hard
9 + 0 organisation is found in
A. Basal body ✓ Correct
B. Axoneme
C. More than one is correct
D. Basal plate
Solution: The 9 + 0 microtubular organisation (nine peripheral doublets/triplets and no central tubules) is characteristic of the basal body and centriole. The axoneme of cilia/flagella has a 9 + 2 pattern.
Q18 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
9 + 2 organisation of microtubules is found in
A. Centriole
B. More than one is correct ✓ Correct
C. Flagella
D. Cilia
Solution: The axoneme of both cilia and flagella shows the 9 + 2 arrangement (nine peripheral doublets and two central microtubules), so more than one option is correct.
Q19 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
The doublet of cilia shows a pair of arms which are made up of
A. None of these
B. Tubulin protein
C. Dynein protein ✓ Correct
D. Flagellin protein
Solution: Each peripheral doublet of the axoneme bears a pair of arms made of the motor protein dynein, which drives the sliding of microtubules.
Q20 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
The central tubules are connected to one of the tubules of each peripheral doublet by a
A. Bridges
B. Dynein
C. Linkers
D. Radial spoke ✓ Correct
Solution: In the axoneme, the two central tubules are connected by bridges and are enclosed by a central sheath, which is linked to one tubule of each peripheral doublet by a radial spoke.
Q21 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
In which of the following structures is the axoneme core present?
A. Flagella
B. More than one is correct ✓ Correct
C. Cilia
D. Centrioles
Solution: The axoneme, the microtubular core with 9 + 2 organisation, forms the core of both cilia and flagella, so more than one option is correct.
Q22 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Which of the following is a function of centrioles?
A. Form the basal body of cilia or flagella
B. Both 1 and 2 ✓ Correct
C. None of the above
D. Form spindle fibres
Solution: Centrioles form the basal bodies of cilia and flagella and also give rise to the spindle fibres (spindle apparatus) during cell division.
Q23 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Cartwheel-like organisation with nine peripheral triplets of microtubules and a central hub is characteristic of
A. Cilia
B. Centrioles ✓ Correct
C. More than one is correct
D. Flagella
Solution: A centriole has a cartwheel organisation with nine evenly spaced peripheral fibrils of tubulin triplets connected to a central hub by radial spokes.
Q24 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · hard
Cytoskeleton structures
A. Help in chromosome formation
B. Do not help in cytoplasmic streaming
C. Occur only in eukaryotic cells ✓ Correct
D. Consist of microtubules only
Solution: The cytoskeleton is a network of microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments present only in eukaryotic cells, providing support, shape and aiding motility.
Q25 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Centriole, cilium and flagellum resemble one another as
A. All possess (9 + 0) organization
B. All can duplicate themselves
C. All possess (9 + 2) organization
D. All of them are made up of microtubules ✓ Correct
Solution: Centrioles, cilia and flagella are all built of microtubules made of tubulin protein. Centrioles have 9 + 0 while cilia and flagella have 9 + 2 organisation, so only the microtubule composition is common.
Q26 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Arrangement of microtubules in the basal body of a flagellum is
A. 9 + 0 ✓ Correct
B. 18 + 0
C. 9 + 2
D. 9 + 3
Solution: The basal body (like the centriole) has a 9 + 0 arrangement, with nine peripheral triplets and no central microtubules, unlike the 9 + 2 axoneme of the flagellum.
Q27 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · hard
How many microtubule fibres are present in the flagellum of a eukaryotic cell?
A. 27
B. 11
C. 18
D. 20 ✓ Correct
Solution: A eukaryotic flagellum has a 9 + 2 axoneme: nine peripheral doublets (9 x 2 = 18) plus two central microtubules, giving 20 microtubule fibres in all.
Q28 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Which of the following statements is incorrect?
A. Centrioles form the basal body of spindle fibres only ✓ Correct
B. Both the centrioles in a centrosome lie perpendicular to each other
C. Each centriole has an organisation like that of a cartwheel
D. Centrosome usually contains two cylindrical centrioles
Solution: Statement (2) is incorrect: centrioles form the basal bodies of cilia/flagella AND give rise to spindle fibres; they are not limited to forming spindle fibres only.
Q29 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Choose the incorrect statement.
A. Centriole is membrane less, but surrounded by amorphous pericentriolar bodies
B. Centrosome occurs in all eukaryotic cells ✓ Correct
C. Centrioles form spindle poles
D. Centrosome is cytoplasmic structure of animal cells
Solution: Statement (4) is incorrect: the centrosome (centrioles) occurs in animal cells, not in all eukaryotic cells (typically absent in higher plant cells).
Q30 — Cytoskeleton, Cilia, Flagella & Centrioles · medium
Which of the following statements is not correct?
A. Genetic material is contained in the nucleus of the eukaryotic cells
B. The cytoplasm is the main arena of cellular activities in both plant and animal cells
C. Centriole is non-membranous and commonly found in plant cells ✓ Correct
D. Human cheek cells have an outer membrane as the delimiting structure
Solution: Statement (4) is incorrect: centrioles are non-membranous but are found in ANIMAL cells, not commonly in plant cells.