Explain microtubules and microfilament

Okay Babs, let's break down microtubules and microfilaments.

Microfilaments (also called actin filaments) are the thinnest type of cytoskeletal filament. They are polymers of the protein actin and are involved in cell shape, muscle contraction, cell motility (like amoeboid movement), and cytoplasmic streaming. They form a dynamic network just inside the plasma membrane.

Microtubules are the thickest of the cytoskeletal filaments. They are hollow tubes made of protein subunits called tubulin. Microtubules provide structural support, resist compression, and act as tracks for motor proteins to move organelles and vesicles within the cell. They are also crucial components of cilia, flagella, and the mitotic spindle during cell division.