Cytoskeleton components
MCAT glossary · MCAT
Definition
Microfilaments (actin, 7 nm), intermediate filaments (10 nm), microtubules (tubulin, 25 nm).
Cytoskeleton components in plain English
Every cell needs an internal skeleton to hold its shape, move things around inside, and pull itself in two when it divides. The cytoskeleton is that inner scaffolding, and it comes in three thicknesses of protein cables. Microfilaments are the thinnest (about 7 nanometers, made of a protein called actin) and handle cell shape and crawling; intermediate filaments are the medium ones (about 10 nm) and act like sturdy support ropes; microtubules are the thickest hollow tubes (about 25 nm, made of tubulin) and serve as highways that cargo travels along and as the ropes that separate chromosomes during cell division. Think of it like the beams, cables, and tracks inside a building all rolled into one living framework.
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