Final answer:
The cytoskeleton is a network of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules found throughout the cytoplasm. Microfilaments (actin filaments) are responsible for providing rigidity and shape to the cell and facilitating cellular movements. Intermediate filaments resist tension forces, maintain cell shape and structure, and anchor organelles within a cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cytoskeleton is a network of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules found throughout the cytoplasm. The cytoskeleton has three different types of protein elements: microfilaments (actin filaments), intermediate filaments, and microtubules.
Microfilaments, also known as actin filaments, are the thinnest type of cytoskeletal filament. They are made up of the protein actin and are responsible for providing rigidity and shape to the cell and facilitating cellular movements.
Intermediate filaments are filaments intermediate in thickness between microfilaments and microtubules. They are made up of long fibrous subunits of a protein called keratin and are important for maintaining cell shape and structure, resisting tension forces, and anchoring organelles within a cell.