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Microfibril
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<p>A microfibril is a very fine <a href="/facts/Fibril/C6k6DNL3">fibril</a>, or fiber-like strand, consisting of <a href="/facts/Glycoproteins/bKPzzW7m">glycoproteins</a> and <a href="/facts/Cellulose/wYPafTU0">cellulose</a>. It is usually, but not always, used as a general term in describing the structure of protein fiber, e.g. <a href="/facts/Hair/L7vt9FL3">hair</a> and <a href="/facts/Spermatozoon/sTG4GWc0">sperm</a> tail. Its most frequently observed structural pattern is the 9+2 pattern in which two central protofibrils are surrounded by nine other pairs. Cellulose inside plants is one of the examples of non-protein compounds that are using this term with the same purpose. Cellulose microfibrils are laid down in the inner surface of the primary cell wall. As the cell absorbs water, its volume increases and the existing microfibrils separate and new ones are formed to help increase cell strength. </p>