lamellipodium

A lamellipodium is a broad, flat, sheet-like projection of the cell membrane and cytoplasm that extends outward, primarily used for cell movement. These structures are crucial for amoeboid movement, a crawling or sliding form of locomotion seen in organisms like amoebas and certain cells within multicellular organisms, such as white blood cells.12

Lamellipodia are formed through the dynamic assembly and disassembly of actin filaments, which pull the cell forward. This process involves the cytoplasm flowing into the extension, allowing the cell to adhere to and glide across a surface. While often described as broad and flat, the term lamellipodia can sometimes refer to thinner structures that rely heavily on surface adhesion for propulsion.13