Fimbria (bacteriology)

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In bacteriology, fimbria is a proteinaceous appendage in many gram-negative bacteria that is thinner and shorter than a flagellum. This appendage ranges from 3-10 nanometers in diameter and can be up to several micrometers long. Fimbriae are used by bacteria to adhere to one another and to adhere to animal cells. A bacterium can have as many as 1,000 fimbriae. Fimbriae are only visible with the use of an electron microscope.

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• MeSH Fimbriae+Proteins

fimbria or (pili) arise from cell membrane and extrudes through cell wall, its formed of protein called (pilin), arranged in peritrichate shape and has function of antigenic, adhesion of specific receptor on mucosal surface and other tissues.