In: Anatomy and Physiology
2. Which of the following, regarding the melanocyte, is false?
a) like all cells in the epidermis, it adjoins neighboring keratinocytes directly by desmosomal
connections – this ensures all elements of the skin resist tension maximally
b) both eumelanin and pheomelanin made by melanocytes undergo fast internal conversion of photoninduced
excitation to heat energy
c) melanosomes made by melanocytes are assembled along the exterior-facing surface of keratinocyte
nuclei
d) the ration of melanocyte to keratinocytes is roughly 1 to 36 for majority of the skin surface in
humans
e) relative melanocyte activation and the relative melanin subtype concentrations largely account of
the astonishing diversity of human skin coloration
Answer:
Option D (The ratio of melanocyte to keratinocytes is roughly 1 to 36 for majority of the skin surface in humans)
Explanation: Melanocyte are the cells which helps in the process of melanin; a pigment formation. The pigment melanin is responsible for providing a pigment or a color to the body
Also, keratinocytes are the cells which are responsible for the formation of the protein keratin. They are meant for keeping and retaining the different cells of the epidermis at their place
The melanocytes remains connected with the keratinocytes with the help of junctions called as the gap junctions named desmosomes which facilitate the easy movement of the substances from one cell to the other
Normally the ratio with which they are present at the top most layer of the epidermis is 1-10/20. That is on the top most epidermal layer of the skin; the number of melanocyte is one; whereas the number of the keratinocytes varies from 10-20.