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Answer taken from the article:
Costin & Hearing (2007). Human skin pigmentation: Melanocytes modulate skin color in response to stress. The Faseb Journal, 21(4), 976-994.
"Melanin biosynthesis is a complex pathway that appears in highly specialized cells, called melanocytes, within membrane-bound organelles referred to as melanosomes. Melanosomes are transferred via dendrites to surrounding keratinocytes, where they play a critical role in photoprotection. The anatomical relationship between keratinocytes and melanocytes is known as 'the epidermal melanin unit' and it has been estimated that each melanocyte is in contact with ∼40 keratinocytes in the basal and suprabasal layers."
Translated: Melanocytes produce melanin in nice little packages called, melanosomes. These melanosomes are then transferred to neighboring keratinocytes (i.e., the hair follicle) through dendrites. This is how the hair follicle gets its color, even though the actual hair follicle doesn't produce melanin itself.
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What are most cells of the epidermis?
The most abundant cells in the epidermis are keratinocytes.
What pigment is phagocytized by keratinocytes?
Melanocytes phagocytize melanin. First, melanocytes which are present in the lowest or basal layer of the epidermis, produce the pigment melanin. The melanin forms granules called melanosomes. After the keratinocytes take up the pigment, it clusters around the keratinocyte nucleus on the superficial side. This protects the DNA in the keratinocyte nucleus from damage due to UV radiation.
What are 5 types of cells in the epidermis?
Squamous cells
What type of cell is responsible for the color and tone of our skin?
There are cells within the bottom layer of the epidermis (the stratum basale or stratum germinativum) called melanocytes. Melanocytes secrete a pigment called melanin which is responsible for giving our skin its color. Their main function though is to shield the nuclei of the keratinocytes (the main cells of the epidermis) to protect them from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. That's why we appear to tan in the sun.
What is the function of the melanocytes?
- A cell of the statum basale of the epidermis that synthesizes melanin and transfers it to the keratinocytes.- Any of the dendritic clear cells of the epidermis that synthesize tyrosinase and, within their melanosomes, the pigment melanin; the melanosomes are then transferred from melanocytes to keratinocytes.
What are most cells of the epidermis?
The most abundant cells in the epidermis are keratinocytes.
What is cytocrine secretion?
Injection of secretory granules into neighboring cells Such as melanocytes injecting melanosomes to neighboring keratinocytes
Melanocytes and keratinocytes work together in protecting the skin from the UV damage when keratinocytes?
Accumulate the melanin granules on their superficial portion, forming a pigment that protects DNA from UV radiation
What cells produce keratin and melanin?
Keratinocytes or squamous cells produce keratin and Melanocytes produce melanin, pigment.
What pigment is phagocytized by keratinocytes?
Melanocytes phagocytize melanin. First, melanocytes which are present in the lowest or basal layer of the epidermis, produce the pigment melanin. The melanin forms granules called melanosomes. After the keratinocytes take up the pigment, it clusters around the keratinocyte nucleus on the superficial side. This protects the DNA in the keratinocyte nucleus from damage due to UV radiation.
What are 5 types of cells in the epidermis?
Squamous cells
What type of cell is responsible for the color and tone of our skin?
There are cells within the bottom layer of the epidermis (the stratum basale or stratum germinativum) called melanocytes. Melanocytes secrete a pigment called melanin which is responsible for giving our skin its color. Their main function though is to shield the nuclei of the keratinocytes (the main cells of the epidermis) to protect them from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. That's why we appear to tan in the sun.
What is the function of the melanocytes?
- A cell of the statum basale of the epidermis that synthesizes melanin and transfers it to the keratinocytes.- Any of the dendritic clear cells of the epidermis that synthesize tyrosinase and, within their melanosomes, the pigment melanin; the melanosomes are then transferred from melanocytes to keratinocytes.
Where would you find melanocytes and tactile cells?
Stratum Basale or Germinativum Some 10-25% of the cells in the stratum Basale are melanocytes, and their branching processes extend among the surrounding cells, reaching well into the more superficial Stratum Spinosum layer. Occasional Merkel cells are also seen in this stratum.
What are keratinocytes?
Keratinocytes are the epidermal cells of the skin.
What ate the 4 types of cells in the epidermis?
The epidermis has several strata (layers) that contain four cell types. Keratinocytes produce keratin, a protein that gives skin its strength and flexibility and waterproofs the skin surface. Melanocytes produce melanin, the dark pigment that gives skin its color.
Is there melanin in melanocytes?
Melanocytes produce melanin.
