Final answer:
Intermediate filaments are diverse cytoskeletal elements made up of fibrous proteins such as keratin. They maintain cell shape, resist tension forces, and anchor organelles. They also form cell-to-cell junctions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intermediate filaments are a diverse group of cytoskeletal elements made up of fibrous proteins. One common example of an intermediate filament is keratin, which strengthens hair, nails, and the epidermis of the skin. Intermediate filaments play a role in maintaining cell shape and structure, resisting tension forces that pull apart cells, and anchoring organelles within cells. They also form special cell-to-cell junctions.