 | This article about biology may be excessively human-centric. |
| Melanocyte | |
|---|---|
 Melanocyte and melanin | |
| Details | |
| Pronunciation | /məˈlænəˌsaɪt, -noʊ-/ or /ˈmɛlənəˌsaɪt, -noʊ-/[1][2] |
| Precursor | Neural crest |
| Location | Skin |
| Function | Melanin production |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | melanocytus |
| MeSH | D008544 |
| TH | H2.00.03.0.01016 |
| FMA | 70545 |
| Anatomical terms of microanatomy | |
Melanocytes are melanin-producing neural crest-derived[3] cells located in the bottom layer (the stratum basale) of the skin's epidermis, the middle layer of the eye (the uvea),[4] the inner ear,[5] vaginal epithelium,[6] meninges,[7] bones,[8] and heart found in many mammals and birds.[9] Melanin is a dark pigment primarily responsible for skin color. Once synthesized, melanin is contained in special organelles called melanosomes which can be transported to nearby keratinocytes to induce pigmentation. Thus darker skin tones have more melanosomes present than lighter skin tones. Functionally, melanin serves as protection against UV radiation. Melanocytes also have a role in the immune system.
- ^ "Melanocyte". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
- ^ "Melanocyte". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
- ^ Cramer SF (February 1991). "The origin of epidermal melanocytes. Implications for the histogenesis of nevi and melanomas". Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. 115 (2): 115–9. PMID 1992974.
- ^ Barden H, Levine S (June 1983). "Histochemical observations on rodent brain melanin". Brain Research Bulletin. 10 (6): 847–51. doi:10.1016/0361-9230(83)90218-6. PMID 6616275. S2CID 4783099.
- ^ Markert CL, Silvers WK (May 1956). "The Effects of Genotype and Cell Environment on Melanoblast Differentiation in the House Mouse". Genetics. 41 (3): 429–50. doi:10.1093/genetics/41.3.429. PMC 1209793. PMID 17247639.
- ^ Mayeaux EJ, Cox JT, et al. (American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology) (2011-12-28). Modern Colposcopy Textbook and Atlas. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9781451153835.
- ^ Mintz B (1971). "Clonal basis of mammalian differentiation". Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology. 25: 345–70. PMID 4940552.
- ^ Nichols SE, Reams WM (March 1960). "The occurrence and morphogenesis of melanocytes in the connective tissues of the PET/MCV mouse strain". Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology. 8: 24–32. PMID 14426921.
- ^ Theriault LL, Hurley LS (October 1970). "Ultrastructure of developing melanosomes in C57 black and pallid mice". Developmental Biology. 23 (2): 261–75. doi:10.1016/0012-1606(70)90098-9. PMID 5476812.