Cilia vs. Pilus — What's the Difference?

Plural of cilium.

A pilus (Latin for 'hair'; plural: pili) is a hair-like appendage found on the surface of many bacteria and archaea. The terms pilus and fimbria (Latin for 'fringe'; plural: fimbriae) can be used interchangeably, although some researchers reserve the term pilus for the appendage required for bacterial conjugation.

Plural of cilium

A hair or hairlike structure, especially a proteinaceous structure projecting from the surface of a bacterium that is smaller than a flagellum and functions in DNA transfer during conjugation and, usually with other such structures, in adhesion.

The eyelashes.

A hair.

Small, generally microscopic, vibrating appendages lining certain organs, as the air passages of the higher animals, and in the lower animals often covering also the whole or a part of the exterior. They are also found on some vegetable organisms. In the Infusoria, and many larval forms, they are locomotive organs.

(microbiology) A hairlike appendage found on the cell surface of many bacteria.

Hairlike processes, commonly marginal and forming a fringe like the eyelash.

(protein) A bacterial protein that has several biochemical functions

Small, vibratory, swimming organs, somewhat resembling true cilia, as those of Ctenophora.

Any of the cylindrical filaments characteristically growing from the epidermis of a mammal;

Hairlike structure especially on the surface of a cell or microorganism