Anatomy of the skin with melanocytes; drawing shows normal skin anatomy, including the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles, sweat glands, hair shafts, veins, arteries, fatty tissue, nerves, lymph vessels, oil glands, and subcutaneous tissue.

In the process of skin pigmentation melanosomes are transferred from melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis to overlying keratinocytes ( Figure 1). The transfer involves a unique...

Melanocytes are melanin-producing neural crest-derived [3] cells located in the bottom layer (the stratum basale) of the skin's epidermis, the middle layer of the eye (the uvea), [4] the inner ear, [5] vaginal epithelium, [6] meninges, [7] bones, [8] and heart found in many mammals and birds. [9]

A cross section diagram of the skin showing the epidermis, dermis, and melanocytes spreading.

Melanocytes are located in the basal layer of epidermis. Each melanocyte is connected to several keratinocytes. Melanosomes (black spots) are distributed in the dentrites, produce and store...