Melanin Definition Anatomy

Melanin is a pigment that is produced by cells known as melanocytes in the skin of most animals. Medical definition of melanin.

Melanin An Overview Sciencedirect Topics

Dark skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale skin.

Melanin definition anatomy. Eumelanin brownish color and pheomelanin reddish brown color. Melanocytes are melanin producing cells located in the bottom layer the stratum basale of the skins epidermis. In heavily pigmented lesions dense aggregates of melanin can obscure histologic detail.

This differentiates melanin from common blood breakdown pigments which are larger chunky and refractile and range in color from green to yellow or red brown. Melanin definition is any of various black dark brown reddish brown or yellow pigments of animal or plant structures such as skin or hair. It provides some protection again skin damage from the sun and the melanocytes increase their production of melanin in response to sun exposure.

The pigment that gives human skin hair and eyes their color. Although darker skinned people have slightly more melanocytes than those who are light skinned the distribution of melanin in the higher levels of the epidermis contributes to their skin color. Exposure to the uv rays of the sun or a tanning salon causes melanin to be manufactured and built up in keratinocytes as sun exposure stimulates keratinocytes to secrete chemicals that stimulate melanocytes.

It comes in two basic forms. Melanin is brown non refractile and finely granular with individual granules having a diameter of less than 800 nanometers. Dark skinned people have more melanin in their skin than light skinned people have.

Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes.

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