Final answer:
Intermediate filaments are crucial for cell shape and structure, as they resist tension and maintain the cell's integrity against forces that pull cells apart.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intermediate filaments are a type of cytoskeletal fiber that plays a structural role within the cell. Unlike microtubules, which resist compression, intermediate filaments resist tension and help maintain cell shape and structure. They also anchor the nucleus and other organelles in place and contribute to the formation of cell-to-cell junctions. Intermediate filaments are made up of long fibrous subunits of a protein called keratin that are wound together like the threads of a rope.
Intermediate filaments are easy to bend but hard to stretch. These cytoskeletal components consist of intertwined strands of fibrous proteins. They are pivotal for maintaining the shape and structure of a cell. Intermediate filaments resist tension, which are forces that pull apart cells and play a key role in supporting cell-cell junctions, anchoring cells to extracellular structures, and maintaining the position of organelles like the nucleus. Made largely from keratin, their structural integrity is essential to the cell's ability to withstand mechanical stress without breaking.