1. A small cylindrical structure found in the cytoplasm of most animal cells, typically occurring in pairs and involved in organizing microtubules during cell division.
Usage: biology; cell biology

Examples

• The centriole plays a crucial role in forming the spindle fibers during mitosis.
• Animal cells contain centrioles, whereas most plant cells do not.
• Under an electron microscope, a centriole appears as a hollow cylinder made of microtubules.
• During cell division, the two centrioles move to opposite poles of the cell.
• The centriole helps organize the centrosome, which is the main microtubule-organizing center in the cell.