Pseudopodia

∞ generated and posted on 2016.08.26 ∞

Plasma membrane-enclosed cytoplasmic extensions employed in cell movement as well as phagocytosis.

Pseudopodia – also known as pseudopods, with pseudopodium or less formally 'pseudopod' the singular forms – literally means "false feet". They are most familiarly associated with amoeba but also are important components of immune system cells (i.e., leukocytes) and particularly the so-called phagocytes such as neutrophils and macrophages.

The formation and modification of the shape of pseudopodia is dependent upon cytoskeleton rearrangement, most prominently involving microfilament assembly and disassembly.

The following video is short, in color, and shows real pseudopodia in action:


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