Question

As a student in an esthetic program, Hannah is tasked with building a three-dimensional model of the layers of the skin. Her model must include captions describing each skin layer and connect skin histology and physiology to esthetics. Hannah visits a craft store to purchase supplies from which she will construct her model.

Additionally, Hannah notes that melanin is produced inside ____, which are transferred to keratinocytes via dendrite branches and determine the color of the skin.

a) Melanocytes
b) Merkel cells
c) Langerhans cells
d) Fibroblasts

Answer 1

Melanocytes found in the stratum basale are responsible for the production of melanin, which is transferred to keratinocytes and determines skin color. The process protects the skin from UV light and is affected by genetics and exposure to sunlight.

Step-by-step explanation:

Melanin is produced inside melanocytes, which are transferred to keratinocytes via dendrite branches and determine the color of the skin.

Understanding Melanocytes in Skin Pigmentation

Melanocytes are located in the stratum basale layer of the epidermis. They produce melanin, the brownish pigment which contributes to skin color. The amount of melanin produced is based on genetics and exposure to UV light. These cells have extensions that transfer melanin into nearby keratinocytes, the main type of cell in the epidermis. This process helps protect the skin from UV damage. Keratinocytes themselves go through a life cycle where they move from the bottom of the epidermis up to the surface, producing more keratin and eventually dying off to create the protective barrier known as the stratum corneum.