Peritrichous

Definition

Peritrichous refers to the arrangement of flagella distributed over the entire surface of a bacterial cell. It enables the bacterium to move in various directions more effectively.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Peritrichous bacteria have flagella covering their entire surface, providing motility.
2. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common example of a peritrichous bacterium.
3. The presence of peritrichous flagella allows these bacteria to navigate complex environments.
4. Peritrichous arrangement can be contrasted with polar arrangements where flagella are located at one or both ends of the cell.
5. Flagellar motion in peritrichous bacteria is coordinated to facilitate movement towards or away from stimuli (chemotaxis).

Review Questions

Related terms

Monotrichous: Having a single flagellum at one end of the bacterial cell.

Lophotrichous: Having multiple flagella located at one end of the bacterial cell.

Amphitrichous: Having one or more flagella at both ends of the bacterial cell.