Question

(Biophysics) Why do the effective and recovery strokes for a cilia have different viscous coefficients? Which one has the higher viscous coefficient? (Assume both strokes are in water)

Answer 1

The cilia has two types of movements were they do rowing or sweep in motion. This movement will beat simultaneously or one after the other such as synchronous or metachronous respectively. The two distinct phases of ciliary beat are effective stroke and recovery stroke. During effective stroke in waater medium, the cilia become stiff and move almost as straight, rigid rods with force against water medium.This force pushes water backward and ciliary forward and it followed by recovery stroke. During recovery stroke, the cilia become limp and return to their regional position in a curved state. Because of the above conditions effective and recovery strokes for a cilia have different viscous coefficients.

Effective strokes has higher viscous coefficient when compared to recovery strokes.