MICROTUBULES
Structure: Hollow cylinders that are made up of repeating protein structure known as tubulin; thickest among the three
Functions: Provides rigidity, gives shape to many cells, major components of cilia and flagella, participates in the formation of a spindle during mitosis
INTERMEDIATE FILAMENTS
Structure: thicker than microfilaments and thinner than microtubules (in between among the three types of the cytoskeleton); protein composition is lamin, vimentin, and keratin
Functions: Forms the true skeleton of the cell, anchors the nucleus, and position it within the cell, giving elasticity to withstand tension,
MICROFILAMENTS
Structure: Protein composition of it is actin; thinnest among the three
Functions: Regulate cell shape, involve in some cell to cell or cell to matrix junctions, permits the movement of the specific cell through the formation of cytoplasmic extensions