Ciliary chemosensitivity is enhanced by cilium geometry and motility

Cilia are hairlike organelles involved in both sensory functions and motility. We discuss the question of whether location chemical receptors on cilia provides an advantage terms sensitivity motile have a further advantage. Using simple advection-diffusion model, we compute capture rates diffusive molecules cilium. Because its geometry, non-motile cilium quiescent fluid has rate equivalent to circular absorbing region with ∼4× surface area. When is exposed external shear flow, area increases ∼6×. Alternatively, if beats non-reciprocal way otherwise fluid, beating frequency power 1/3. Altogether, our results show that protruding geometry could be one reasons why so many located cilia. They also point combining motility reception.