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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.
Melanocytes are pigment-producing cells that produce melanin, which gives skin its color and helps protect against UV radiation. Keratinocytes are the most abundant cells in the epidermis and are responsible for producing keratin, a protein that provides strength and structure to the skin. Melanocytes and keratinocytes work together to protect and maintain the health of the skin.
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What pigment is phagocytized by keratinocytes?
Melanin is the pigment that is phagocytized by keratinocytes in the epidermis. Keratinocytes take up melanin produced by melanocytes in order to protect the skin from UV radiation and prevent DNA damage.
What are most cells of the epidermis?
The majority of cells in the epidermis are keratinocytes. These cells produce the protein keratin, which helps the skin to form a protective barrier. Other cell types in the epidermis include melanocytes (produce melanin for skin color) and Langerhans cells (involved in immune responses).
What is the layer of epidermis that has pigment-producing melanocytes?
The layer of the epidermis that has pigment-producing melanocytes is the stratum basale (basal layer). Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color, and transfer it to surrounding keratinocytes.
What are 5 types of cells in the epidermis?
Squamous cells
Pertaining to skin cells?
Skin is made up of various types of cells, including keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Langerhans cells. Keratinocytes are the most abundant and produce the protein keratin that provides strength and protection. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color and helps protect against UV damage. Langerhans cells are part of the immune system and help protect against pathogens.
What pigment is phagocytized by keratinocytes?
Melanin is the pigment that is phagocytized by keratinocytes in the epidermis. Keratinocytes take up melanin produced by melanocytes in order to protect the skin from UV radiation and prevent DNA damage.
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 are most cells of the epidermis?
The majority of cells in the epidermis are keratinocytes. These cells produce the protein keratin, which helps the skin to form a protective barrier. Other cell types in the epidermis include melanocytes (produce melanin for skin color) and Langerhans cells (involved in immune responses).
What cells produce keratin and melanin?
Keratinocytes or squamous cells produce keratin and Melanocytes produce melanin, pigment.
What is the layer of epidermis that has pigment-producing melanocytes?
The layer of the epidermis that has pigment-producing melanocytes is the stratum basale (basal layer). Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color, and transfer it to surrounding keratinocytes.
What are 5 types of cells in the epidermis?
Squamous cells
Pertaining to skin cells?
Skin is made up of various types of cells, including keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Langerhans cells. Keratinocytes are the most abundant and produce the protein keratin that provides strength and protection. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color and helps protect against UV damage. Langerhans cells are part of the immune system and help protect against pathogens.
Where are melanin and keratin manufactured?
Melanin is produced by melanocytes in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Keratin is synthesized by keratinocytes, which are the predominant cells in the epidermis of the skin.
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 is a single layer of cells beneath the cuticle?
The single layer of cells beneath the cuticle is known as the epidermis. It serves as a protective barrier for the skin and can contain different types of cells such as keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Langerhans cells.
