Prescott's Microbiology 8th Edition by Joanne Willey, Linda Sherwood, Christopher J. Woolverton, Lansing Prescott, John Harley, Donald Klein

Exercise 2

Discuss flagella distribution patterns and the structure and synthesis of flagella.

Step 1 of 3

Flagella are extended protein appendages on the surface of bacteria and achaea. Flagella are used in motility. There exists several different distribution patterns present in bacteria.

A monotrichous bacterium contains only one flagellum. This flagellum is called polar flagella if it is located at one end of the cell. Amphitrichous bacteria have two flagella, with one at each pole. Lophotrichous bacteria have multiple flagella at one or both poles.

Peritrichous bacteria have flagella all over the cell surface.