Final answer:
Intermediate filaments are cytoskeletal filaments that play a crucial role in maintaining cell shape and structure. They resist tension forces and help anchor organelles within cells and form cell-to-cell junctions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intermediate filaments are a type of cytoskeletal filament intermediate in thickness between microtubules and microfilaments. They are made up of long fibrous subunits of a protein called keratin that are wound together like the threads of a rope.
Intermediate filaments play a crucial role in maintaining cell shape and structure, resisting tension forces that can pull cells apart. They also help anchor organelles within cells and form special cell-to-cell junctions.