Pseudopodium (Pseudopodium, Plural. Pseudopodid)

Pseudopodium (Pseudopodium, Plural Pseudopodid) is a temporary cytoplasmic outgrowth in unicellular organisms, the appearance of which is accompanied by a change in cell size (for example, an amoeba or an amoeba-shaped cell (see Phagocyte)). Pseudopodia serve to move and capture food or any foreign particles.

Pseudopodia is a temporary formation that performs certain functions. The appearance of this formation is associated with a change in the shape of the cell. The very size of the body of a single-celled organism changes - the lateral parts of the cell, called pseudopodia, grow (from the Greek “pseudo” - false, “under” - “about”). The pseudopodia themselves are a continuation of the filaments of the spindle. Often false legs appear instead of growing tumors. This formation usually occurs on the sides of a large cell. It is described by “cilia”, i.e. soft, sliding thin threads that become writhing polynomial formations. Consequently, the main function of pseudopodia is to transport substances from the outside to the internal contents of the cell and back. These intracellular fibers capture a certain amount of nutrients and deliver them to the center of the cell for nutrition.

Mechanism of movement Protozoa move in various ways, mainly due to changes in pressure in the vacuoles. Changes in the volume of vacuoles ensure the movement of flagella and muscles. They move alternately through the cell wall. There are also multinuclear organelles formed during mitosis. These organelles arise in the cytoplasm before the division of the nucleus. After this division, a new multinucleated cell begins to grow. It grows due to an increase in the size of the intercellular space. Moreover, if after mitosis 2-3 nuclei grow, then such multinucleated cells are called triploid. A triploid cell has one nucleus; it increases in size and creates a new complete cell with a full set of chromosomes. To ensure movement, scientists identify several types of mechanisms: - contraction of the flagellum and muscle; - encircling molecules with a flagellum;

Movements as a result of changes in the volume of the vacuole are also distinguished. Cytoplasm collects near the contracting areas, where it forms a ball - a lacuna and fills it with solutes. As a result, the movement of the cytoplasm occurs as the lagoon contracts or expands, and substances with a large mass move towards the tip. Then they are distributed throughout the cell and redirected to other points.