IS: Skin Color Flashcards
What is melanin?
a polymer made of an amino acid called tyrosine
What are the two color form ranges?
- reddish yellow
2. brownish black
Melanin synthesis depends on an enzyme in […] called […]
melanocytes; tyrosinase
Process of melanin:
- melanocytes produce melanin
- transported to basal keratinocytes
- lysosomes break down the melanosomes to release melanin
Where is melanin pigment found?
in the deeper layer of the epidermis
Why is there a difference in skin color?
depends on populations location to the equator– the closer to the equator the more protection needed from the sun
Melanocytes of brown-black people:
produce more darker melanosomes and their keratinocytes retain it longer
Moles are known as…
pigmented nevi
How are freckles and moles formed?
by local accumulations of melanin
What happens when skin is exposed to sunlight?
keratinocytes secrete chemicals that stimulate melanocytes
[…] is due to substantial melanin buildup. This helps protect […] of skin cells from UV radiation.
tanning; DNA
What is a carotene and where can you find it?
yellow to orange pigment that accumulates in the stratum corneum epidermal layer and in fatty tissue of the subcutaneous tissue
palms and soles
What can carotene be converted to? Why is this conversion beneficial?
vitamin A
essential for normal vision and epidermal health
Fair skin people have a pinkish hue, what is this reflection of?
the crimson color of the oxygenated pigment hemoglobin circulating dermal capillaries
- hemoglobin is a protein responsible for carrying oxygen in erythrocytes
When the skin color is blueish/grayish what is going on within the body? What does it mean?
hemoglobin in poorly oxygenated, (especially in the mucous membranes and nail beds)
a sign of respiratory or cardiovascular problems
