flagella
Flagella flagellum , singular are long, thin structures that protrude from the cell membrane. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells can have flagella. Flagella help single-celled organisms move or swim towards food. The flagella of eukaryotic cells are normally used for movement too, such as in the movement of sperm cells, which have only a single flagellum. The flagella of either group are very different from each other. Prokaryotic flagella, shown in Figure below , are spiral-shaped and stiff. They spin around in a fixed base much like a screw does, which moves the cell in a tumbling fashion. Eukaryotic flagella are made of microtubules that bend and flex like a whip.