| B |
Body length |
μm |
| W |
Body width |
μm |
| N |
Number of flagella or cilia |
- |
| L |
Lengths (mostly flagella, otherwise specified) |
μm |
|
nw
|
Number of waves (full periods, or crests) produced by flagellar beat |
- |
| λ |
Wavelength of flagellar waves (of helicoidal body and of metachronal waves indicated by a subscript B and MW, respectively) |
μm |
| Λ |
Length of a complete wave along the flagellum (or path, indicated by subscript) |
μm |
| h |
Amplitude of waves (for helicoidal bodies, a subscript B added) |
μm |
| U |
Swimming velocity |
μm s−1
|
| ω |
Flagellar beat frequency |
s−1
|
| Ω |
Frequency of the rotation of cell body |
s−1
|
| c |
Wave speed of flagellar beat (or metachronal wave) |
μm s−1
|
| V |
Volume of cell body |
μm3
|
| ℓ |
Length of cilia |
μm |
| d |
Distance between cilia |
μm |
| b |
Radius of flagella |
μm |
| κ |
Number of cilia per unit area |
μm−2
|
| f |
Beating frequency of cilia |
s−1
|
| G |
Gyration (frequency at which organisms revolve around the axis of movement) |
s−1
|
| η |
Viscosity of the swimming medium |
mPas |
