Definition
noun
A crawling-like type of movement in which the cell forms temporary cytoplasmic projections called pseudopodia (false feet) towards the front of the cell.
Supplement
This type of movement is observed in amoebae (e.g. Amoeba proteus). Their cytoplasm consists of plasmasol (central fluid) surrounded by a more viscous plasmagel. The plasmagel is converted to plasmasol causing the cytoplasm to slide and form a pseudopodium in front to move the cell forward.
Cells that move this way are referred to as amoeboids. Apart from amoeba, other examples are cellular slime moulds (e.g. Dictyostelium discoideum), and human cells, particularly Kupffer cells of liver, monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and cancerous cells.
See also: pseudopodia, amoeboid.
Dictionary > Amoeboid movement
You will also like...
![Lotic community of algal species](https://www.biologyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Lotic-Communities-Algae-252x168.jpg)
Lotic Communities & Algae
Lotic communities have conditions that are rather harsh for typical plants. Thus, the diversity of plant species in loti..
![An artist's depiction of the origin of amphibians](https://www.biologyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Amphibians-Early-Reptiles-297x168.jpg)
Amphibians & Early Reptiles
Obtaining air outside an aquatic environment required species to acquire suitable adaptations, and this was the case of ..
![Salmon jumping upstream in the river](https://www.biologyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Lotic-Communities-Animals-257x168.jpg)
Lotic Communities & Animals
A running water environment offers numerous microhabitats for many types of animals. Similar to plants, animals in lotic..
![Gibberellins and Gibberellic Acid](https://www.biologyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Gibberellins-and-Gibberellic-Acid-252x168.jpg)
Gibberellins and Gibberellic Acid
This tutorial describes the role of gibberellin family in plants. Find out the effects of gibberellin on plant growth an..
![IQ, Creativity and Learning](https://www.biologyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IQ-Creativity-and-Learning-e1657499183538-300x110.jpg)
IQ, Creativity and Learning
Human intelligence provided the means to utilize abstract ideas and implement reasoning. This tutorial takes a further l..
![kinesin motor proteins transporting molecules across microtubules](https://www.biologyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Movement-of-molecules-across-cell-membranes-252x168.jpg)
Movement of Molecules Across Cell Membranes
Molecules move within the cell or from one cell to another through different strategies. Transport may be in the form of..