melanocytes
Skin color cells
Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color.
Found in the bottom layer of the epidermis, they transfer melanin to surrounding skin cells, providing protection against ultraviolet radiation.
When melanocytes cluster, they form moles.
Melanoma is cancer of these cells.
Brown-black biological pigment
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
- chromophoresLight-absorbing molecular regions
- skin toneBody's surface coloration
hair color · eye color · iris · variegation
Skin tone, appearance
- frecklesPigmented skin spots
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
- neviBenign skin growths
- sunburnUV-induced skin inflammation
tanning · vitiligo · albinism · dermatology · hair follicles · age spots · birthmarks · hyperpigmentation
Outermost tissue layer
- dermisLiving tissue under epidermis
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- organellesSpecialized cell subunits
membrane · fibroblasts · dendrites · proliferation · differentiation · migration · morphology · histology
Wavelengths shorter than violet
- UV radiationInvisible high-energy light waves
- sunlightRadiance from our star
- DNA damageInjury to genetic material
- sun exposureLight from sky reaching skin
SPF · photodamage · free radicals · sunscreen
eumelanin
Brown-black biological pigment
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
- chromophoresLight-absorbing molecular regions
skin tone · hair color · eye color · iris · variegation
complexion
Skin tone, appearance
sunburn · tanning · vitiligo · albinism · dermatology · hair follicles · age spots · birthmarks · hyperpigmentation · melasma
epidermis
Outermost tissue layer
- dermisLiving tissue under epidermis
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
organelles · membrane · fibroblasts · dendrites · proliferation · differentiation · migration · morphology · histology · tissue
ultraviolet
Wavelengths shorter than violet
- UV radiationInvisible high-energy light waves
- sunlightRadiance from our star
- DNA damageInjury to genetic material
sun exposure · SPF · photodamage · free radicals · sunscreen
carcinoma
Epithelial malignant tumor
- malignantHarmfully invasive, often fatal
- metastasisCancer spreading beyond origin
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
lesion · dysplasia · tumor · nevus · atypical · oncology · mutation · prognosis · staging
- skinepidermis, dermis, skin, cutis, pores
- pigmentationeumelanin, skin color, pigment, skin tone, hair color
- skin anatomydermis, epidermis, hypodermis, subcutis, cutis
- ectodermepidermis, nervous system, brain, neurons, neural tube
- neural crestsensory neurons, dorsal root ganglia, jaw bones, glia, ganglia
- pigment cellschromatophores