MELANOCYTE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does melanocyte mean? 

• MELANOCYTE (noun)
  The noun MELANOCYTE has 1 sense:

1. a cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that produces melanin under the control of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone

  Familiarity information: MELANOCYTE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MELANOCYTE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that produces melanin under the control of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("melanocyte" is a kind of...):

epidermal cell (any of the cells making up the epidermis)

 Context examples 

These abnormal melanocytes may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue.

(Melanoma in situ, NCI Dictionary)

Some examples of cell types are lymphocytes, melanocytes, and squamous cells.

(Cell type, NCI Dictionary)

Usually a benign tumor, that commonly presents as a solitary blue nodule with spindled melanocytes covered by smooth skin.

(Blue Nevus, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

People with certain changes in the gene for melanotropin receptor have a higher risk of developing melanoma (skin cancer that begins in melanocytes).

(Melanotropin receptor, NCI Dictionary)

A benign, circumscribed proliferation of melanocytes in the skin.

(Benign Melanocytic Skin Nevus, NCI Thesaurus)

A primary tumor of the central nervous system that arises from leptomeningeal melanocytes.

(Central Nervous System Melanocytic Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

It is characterized by the presence of benign, heavily pigmented dendritic melanocytes.

(Cervical Blue Nevus, NCI Thesaurus)

The activated Mitf recruits p300 and up-regulates Bcl2 transcription, which plays an important role in modulating the development and survival of the melanocyte lineage.

(Melanocyte Development Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

A neoplasm composed of melanocytes that usually appears as a dark spot on the skin.

(Melanocytic Nevus, NCI Thesaurus)

A primary melanoma arising from atypical melanocytes in the skin.

(Cutaneous Melanoma, NCI Thesaurus)