Anatomy

Melanocytes

Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Melanocyte

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, enzymology, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

do not confuse with MELANOPHORES

MeSH Record

History Note

72(69)

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Chromatophores (1966-1968)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A11w.409.750w
  2. A11w.436.613w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QS 532.5.E7

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Melanocytes. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D008544. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D008544
  2. Melanocytes. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanocyte
  3. Melanocytes. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q247101