Apical structure of human respiratory cilia.

The apical structure of human respiratory cilia was studied using thin and thick sectioning techniques. The distal end of the mature cilium is narrowed and presents dense material and a crown-shaped glycocalyx. The crown is composed of three to seven bristles, having a mean length of 31 nm and showing a periodic structure. The capping structure of the apical part of human respiratory cilia is composed of a plate and an electron-dense cap tightly bound to the central and to each of the nine peripheral A microtubules. Lateral spokes link the peripheral microtubules to the internal ciliary plasma membrane and dense filaments radiate from the dense cap to the ciliary crown. These ciliary apical structures may be involved in several functions associated with microtubule assembly as well as ciliary movement and mucociliary transport.