Meaning & use
melanocytes
Last updated
Specialized cells found mainly in the skin that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color.
See it in a sentence
Sun exposure stimulates melanocytes to produce more melanin, causing the skin to tan.
Melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, develops from mutated melanocytes.
A note on using this word
Melanocytes originate from neural crest cells during embryonic development and migrate to the skin, eyes, and inner ear before birth.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “melanocytes”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.