Desmosomes are specialized cell junctions that are important in anchoring certain cell types to one another. Intermediate filaments are used to stabilize these connections by interacting with cadherins. Cadherins are transmembrane proteins that interact with cadherins of adjacent cells on the exoplasmic face of the plasma membrane. Adherens junctions have similar function,s but make use of actin and integrins/cadherins. 

Intermediate filaments are a component of the cytoskeleton that do not display treadmilling. Both actin microfilaments and microtubules undergo treadmilling, during which the structure is built on one end and deconstructed at the other. The result is an apparently "moving" structure with a forward and reverse end. Intermediate filaments are nor polarized and have no distinct ends, making them incapable of this action.

Actin microfilaments and microtubules also maintain gradients of ADP/ATP or GDP/GTP bound monomers respectively, used to indicate their polarity, while intermediate filaments do not. The mitotic spindle is made of microtubules.

Desmosomes, however, are specialized cell junctions that use the intermediate filament cytoskeleton to anchor adjacent cells. Membrane proteins called cadherins bind to the filaments on the intracellular surface of the membrane and bind to the extracellular regions of membrane proteins on the adjacent cell. The result is two intermediate filaments, linked by the bound proteins, to form a junction.

Mucus begins to accumulate in the lungs because the cilia no longer move. Cilia function in pushing mucus up the respiratory tract so that it doesn't build up in the lungs. When they become non-motile, they lose this capability.

The cytoskeleton is comprised of actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules.

Spindle complexes are found within cells undergoing mitosis; they are made of microtubules, but are not a fundamental part of the cytoskeleton. Cilia and flagella are also largely composed of microtubules; however, these structures are also not fundamental components of the cytoskeleton. Myosin filaments work in coordination with actin filaments during muscle contraction, but are not involved in the cytoskeleton.

Microtubules are found in various structures that promote cell motility. The axoneme is the name given to the cytoskeletal core that makes up whip-like appendages in eukaryotic cells. Axonemes display a "9+2" organization of microtubules.

Microtubules are also important in vesicle trafficking and utilize motor proteins like dynein and kinesin to accomplish this. Actin filaments use the motor protein myosin. The GDP/GTP gradient helps control microtubule treadmilling, while the ADP/ATP gradient helps control actin treadmilling. The contractile ring formed during cytokinesis consists of actin and myosin rather than microtubules. 

While eukaryotic flagella are composed of microtubules, prokaryotic flagella are composed of a long protein called flagellin. Microtubules are composed of the tubulin protein, and play keys roles in mitosis and cell motility. Cilia and spindle fibers are both composed of microtubules. Prokaryotes do not contain developed microtubules.

Eukaryotic cilia and flagella are incredibly similar in protein composition. Their primary functions include helping cells move and maintaining fluid flow within the body. They accomplish this by maintaining a structure of 9 microtubule doublets surrounding 2 microtubule singlets (9+2). The motor protein dynein is then responsible for allowing the sliding of filaments that is necessary for movement.

Centrioles have diverse functions. Particularly, they are important portions of centrosomes and help develop the mitotic spindle that aids in the separation of chromosomes during cell division.

Peroxisomes are responsible for the catabolism of very long chain fatty acids. Lysosomes are responsible for handling pathogens in the cytosol in a process called phagocytosis. The pathogens are then digested by hydrolytic enzymes in the lysosome interior. Chromosome condensation is accomplished by various proteins.

The chromosome is formed by two sister chromatids, connected at a central point to form an "X" structure. This central location is called the centromere.

During prophase, as the chromosomes condense, a protein complex forms at the centromere and becomes bound to microtubule spindle fibers. This protein complex is known as the kinetochore.

Centrioles form the distal attachment points for the microtubules that bind to the kinetochore. During anaphase, the centrioles anchor the spindle fibers at opposite ends of the cell and allow the microtubules to pull the chromatids apart. The centrosome is composed of two centrioles.

Kinesin is a protein capable of traveling along microtubules, helping to assemble and disassemble their structures, as well as shuttling proteins along the length of the tubule.

Microtubules form the basis of the spindle fiber structures responsible for separating sister chromatids during mitosis. These fibers attach to chromosomes at the centromere by binding to the kinetochore during metaphase. During anaphase, the microtubules retract, pulling apart the sister chromatids and sequestering them in opposite ends of the cell. As a result, anaphase is likely to be the phase during which movement along microtubules is greatest.