Final answer:
A microfilament of the cytoskeleton is an actin component that supports cell shape, allows for cellular movements, and is essential during cell division and the formation of microvilli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The component of the cytoskeleton that is considered a microfilament is actin. This element is the narrowest component of the cytoskeletal system and plays a crucial role in maintaining cell shape, enabling cellular movements, particularly during cell division, and contributing to the formation of microvilli, which are involved in absorption. Microfilaments are composed of actin filaments and are significant for the contraction of muscle cells. In the cytoskeleton, microfilaments typically lie in the cortex of cells, just under the plasma membrane, supporting the cell shape and allowing dynamic reorganization for changes in cell shape, particularly during cellular events like cytokinesis.