Pseudopodium

(su-do-po' -de-um). In biology, a temporary or permanent, filose or lobose proce of the exoplasm of Rhizopod a, Heliozoa, Radio lari a, and other ameboid cells; leukocytes, plasmodia, etc. " There are two principal sorts of pseudopodia, myxopodia and axopodia. The former are not stiff, but protrusible and retractile; they can fuse with neighboring pseudopodia into a network, and chiefly in the Rhizopod a, can collect into small ma es by flowing together outside the body at points where they meet with food. Such myxopodia are characteristic of the Rhizopod a, and most Radio lari a. The axopodia, which are found in the Heliozoa and in A canthari a among Radio lari a, are on the contrary, more or le stiff, and not inclined to reticulate and fuse. In their axes there generally runs a stiff axial filament, a sort of elastic organ of support formed of organic substance. These axial filaments run toward the central point of the body to the boundary of the endoplasm (Actinosphccrium), or to the nucleus near the center (Actinophrys), or they meet actually in the center (A canthari a). All pseudopodia show more or le swift granular streaming. " (Lang.) Pseudo-polypus (su-do-pol' -ip-us). A ma of mucus or blood a uming the shape of a polypoid tumor.