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
