Melanocyte

Melanocyte is a specialized cell that is found in the basal layer of the epidermis of the skin. These cells play an important role in protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Melanin is a dark brown pigment produced by melanocytes and is the main pigment of the skin. It protects the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer. Melanin also determines the color of skin, hair and eyes.

Melanocytes have a complex structure that allows them to perform their functions. Each melanocyte contains melanosomes, specialized organelles that produce and store melanin. These organelles can transfer melanin to other skin cells, such as keratinocytes, which make up most of the epidermis. This helps protect the skin from UV rays as well as other harmful effects.

Melanocytes also play an important role in various skin diseases. For example, pigmentary changes in the skin, such as spots and moles, are caused by changes in the amount and distribution of melanin in the epidermis. Some diseases, such as vitiligo, are characterized by a reduced amount of melanin in the skin. In other diseases, such as melanoma, melanocytes begin to divide uncontrollably and form tumors.

In conclusion, melanocytes are important cells for protecting the skin and maintaining skin health. They play an important role in determining skin color as well as various skin diseases. Understanding the functions of melanocytes can help develop new methods for treating and preventing skin diseases.

Melanin or, as it is also called, melanogenesis (from the Latin melanogenēsis - the formation of melanin).

It performs a protective function by preventing ultraviolet damage to the skin by absorbing photons. Melanin granules are about 0.2 microns in size and are highly resistant to various acids, salts, heat, etc. Due to its pigmentation ability, melanin controls skin color. Since the development of cancer in humans is associated with uneven coloration of the skin, it has become obvious that the skin consists of many melanocytic cells.

In nervous tissue, melanin is also present in microencapsulated form among the cellular environment. In this case, the main center of presence of such melanin is norepinephrine. Melanin in different structures and tissues forms different complexes that determine skin tones: brown in the hair, blue in the iris, yellow in larval skin, green in the endocardium. The formation of melanin occurs under the control of genes that have existed in the body since ancient times, since melanin first appeared in the body in single-celled organisms.

Melanocytes are formed in neural crest cells during fetal embryogenesis and, through mechanisms of migration and differentiation, migrate from the maxilla downwards, where they initiate melanosomes and gradually move into the epidermis of the skin. This is done to ensure that the melanin pigmentation matches the tone required to achieve a certain degree of brown and therefore

Melanin is a biologically active substance in the human body that is secreted from melanocytes. This dark brown liquid is produced in cells of the skin, hair and organs of vision. As a result of its action, hair color, eye color, and skin tone appear. Melanin also protects the body from excess sunlight by absorbing ultraviolet rays. We have a large population of cells in our bodies called melanocytes.

Melanocytes have different shapes and sizes. They appear and function in the skin, but can also form in the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary system. The number of these cells is small (only a few tens of thousands). However, they are capable of dividing intensively. A feature of melanocytes is the ability to activate in response