| melanosome | <cell biology> Membrane bounded organelle found in melanocytes, when melanin synthesis is active internal structure is characteristic, containing melanofilaments that have a periodicity of around 9nm and are arranged in parallel arrays. Mature melanosomes, in which the filamentous structure is masked by the dense accumulation of melanin, are transferred to keratinocytes. Origin: Gr. Soma = body (13 Nov 1997) |
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| giant melanosome | A large spherical melanosome (1 to 6 u in diameter) formed in the cytoplasm of melanocytes in cafe-au-lait spots and other melanocytic disorders. Synonym: macromelanosome. (05 Mar 2000) |
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