axoneme

noun

ax·​o·​neme ˈak-sə-ˌnēm 

: the fibrillar bundle of a flagellum or cilium that usually consists of nine pairs of microtubules arranged in a ring around a single central pair

axonemal

ˌak-sə-ˈnē-məl 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Greek axōn axis + nēma thread, from nēn to spin — more at needle

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

axoneme

noun

ax·​o·​neme ˈak-sə-ˌnēm 

: the fibrillar bundle of a flagellum or cilium that usually consists of nine pairs of microtubules in a ring around a single central pair

axonemal

ˌak-sə-ˈnē-məl 

adjective