pigmentation
pig·men·ta·tion
P0298300 (pĭg′mən-tā′shən)pigmentation
(ˌpɪɡmənˈteɪʃən)pig•men•ta•tion
(ˌpɪg mənˈteɪ ʃən)n.
Noun | 1. | ![]() |
2. | pigmentation - coloration of living tissues by pigment |
单词 | pigmentation | ||||||
释义 | pigmentationpig·men·ta·tionP0298300 (pĭg′mən-tā′shən)pigmentation(ˌpɪɡmənˈteɪʃən)pig•men•ta•tion(ˌpɪg mənˈteɪ ʃən)n.
pigment(ˈpigmənt) nounpigmentationpigmentation,name for the coloring matter found in certain plant and animal cells and for the color produced thereby. Pigmentation occurs in nearly all living organisms. Almost all plants synthesize their own pigments; animals either derive pigments from plant foods or synthesize them themselves.In plants the major pigments are the carotenes (reddish orange to yellow), the anthocyanins (red, blue, and violet), and the chlorophylls (green). The red and yellow colors of autumn foliage are due to the exposure of the anthocyanins after the green chlorophyll pigments, which usually mask them, have decomposed and faded. The major animal pigments are the hemes (red) of blood hemoglobin, the carotenes, the melanins (black and brown), and guanine (white and iridescent). The latter three produce the surface coloration of most animals. Pigments not only provide external coloration but also function in some important physiological processes. In the retina of the eye the pigment cells (rods and cones) adjust or regulate the entering light (see visionvision, Human PigmentationIn humans the degree of darkness of the skin, hair, and iris of the eye depends primarily on the amount of melanin present. The presence of hemoglobin and carotene in the bloodblood, Pigment and Refraction in ColorationThe coloration of an organism may be caused by deposits of organic pigments in the tissues (as in human skin or in plant leaves), by optical effects of the refraction of light rays (as in mollusk shells and in some butterfly wings and bird feathers), or by a combination of both (see colorcolor, Pigmentation Adaptation in AnimalsThe pigmentation of many animals is adapted to their environment and aids in their survival (see mimicrymimicry, PigmentationA property of biological materials that imparts coloration. Hence, pigmentation determines the quantity and quality of reflected visible light. The characteristics of light returning from living matter are a function of its chemical and physical properties and, therefore, are not only due to pigments proper but can be of structural origin (for example, due to reflection, scattering, or interference) as well. Pigments are essential constituents of the living world. Their contribution to the evolution and maintenance of life, and its manifold expressions, is most evident in the role of chlorophylls and the associated carotenoids of certain bacteria and most plants. These pigments harvest solar light energy for utilization in the photosynthesis of organic material from inorganic precursors. See Chlorophyll, Photosynthesis The outermost structures on the animal skin are pigmented for many reasons, for example, to reduce the animal's visibility against a colored background or to provide optical signals to the other sex or to other species. Conspicuously pigmented flowers attract pollinators, and colored fruits are easily found by animals, which eat them and then disperse the undigested seeds. The role of pigments in communication depends on the ability of organisms to discriminate between different regions of the solar spectrum. In animals with eyes, this is accomplished by differently colored visual pigments contained in specialized receptor cells. Microorganisms, fungi, and plants also have special pigment systems that permit these organisms to move or grow toward, or away from, light (positive and negative phototaxis and phototropism, respectively). See Plant movements Since most organisms are totally dependent on light—at least indirectly—elaborate pigment systems have evolved which tune metabolic and activity patterns to the daily pattern of light and dark, and to the changes in the relative lengths of day and night in the course of a year. The phytochrome of plants and the pigments of the eye or of extraretinal photoreceptor organs of many vertebrates and invertebrates are typical representatives of pigments that correlate biological activity with light-dark cycles (photoperiodism). See Color vision, Photoperiodism, Photoreception In the examples listed above, pigments mediate, in various ways, the beneficial actions of light. Absorbed solar light energy may, however, also have detrimental effects by causing undesirable or even destructive reactions. Pigmentations can provide a light-absorbing shield that protects the tissue below from such potentially damaging radiation of the Sun. See Skin Pigmentationthe coloration of tissues and organs as a result of the formation and deposition of pigments. The pigmentation of skin, hair, and the iris, which depends on the quantity and distribution of the pigment melanin, is one of the main racial features that are considered in anthropology. Melanin is found in tissues in the form of granules or a solution in the cellular protoplasm. Skin color results from the presence of melanin in the epidermis and the translucence of capillaries in the derma. Melanin is formed by melanocytes, which are specialized cells in the basal layer of the epidermis. In light-skinned peoples the basal layer contains only a few melanin granules, while in dark-skinned peoples the layer is packed with granules. Skin color is not uniform throughout the body. The extensor surfaces of the extremities are darker than the flexor surfaces, and the back is more pigmented than the chest or abdomen. Coloration is most intense around the nipples. Even in dark-skinned peoples, the palms and soles are light. The lips of light-skinned peoples are covered by a nonpigmented mucous membrane, and the red color of such lips is due to the translucence of labial capillaries. On the other hand, melanin in the mucous membrane imparts a bluish color to the lips of dark-skinned peoples. Exposure to the sun darkens the skin because solar rays intensify the formation of melanin, which is capable of absorbing the ultraviolet light that harms tissues. In this manner, dark skin protects an organism against sunlight. Skin color varies from pinkish, in light-skinned peoples of Europe, to chocolate, mostly in peoples that inhabit the tropics, for example, African Negroes, Papuans, Melanesians, and Australians. It is one of the most important inherited racial characteristics. Hair color is also determined by the content of melanin, chiefly in the cortex of the hair. Melanin granules are formed in melanocytes, which are present in the epithelium of the hair follicle. Dark hair is rich in pigment granules, which can penetrate into the medullary column, or pith, of the hair; light hair has fewer and smaller granules. Melanin in solution imparts a reddish tint to hair. Hair color changes with age, light hair becoming darker. Graying is caused by the cessation of melanin biosynthesis. People with light or reddish hair are predominantly found only in northwestern Europe; elsewhere, dark hair is prevalent, but the intensity and shade vary even among dark-pigmented populations. The color of the iris depends on the quantity of melanin and the depth at which the melanin is deposited. The pigment is found in the pigmented layer and the posterior limiting layer of the iris. If the anterior layers are nonpigmented, the melanin that shows through them imparts a dark or light blue color to the iris. If the pigment is also present in the anterior layers (the simple squamous epithelium and the stroma), the iris appears yellow or brown. An uneven distribution of pigment in the anterior layers produces green eyes, gray eyes, and eyes that appear to contain a mixture of yellow, brown, and light blue. The presence of large quantities of pigment in the anterior layers accounts for eyes that are black or brown. In some populations, women’s eyes are somewhat darker than men’s. Dark eyes lighten with age, while light eyes darken. Eye color more or less corresponds to hair color, although in moderately pigmented populations light eyes are found more often than light hair. The absence of normal pigmentation in the skin, hair, and iris, a condition called albinism, is due to a hereditary disturbance in melanin biosynthesis. REFERENCESRoginskii, Ia. Ia., and M. G. Levin. Antropologiia, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1963.Biologiia cheloveka. Moscow, 1968. (Translated from English.) T. D. GLADKOVA pigmentation[‚pig·mən′tā·shən]pigmentationpigmentationpigmentation[pig″men-ta´shun]pig·men·ta·tion(pig'men-tā'shŭn),pigmentation(pĭg′mən-tā′shən)pig·men·ta·tion(pig'mĕn-tā'shŭn)pigmentationColoration of any part of the body, especially the skin. Normal pigmentation of skin, hair and eyes is occasioned by the presence of melanin-a brown or black pigment produced by cells called melanocytes. Abnormal pigmentation may occur from local or general loss of melanin. ALBINISM is caused by a general deficiency of melanin. Other causes of abnormal pigmentation include skin disease, pregnancy (see CHLOASMA), ADDISON'S DISEASE, CUSHING'S SYNDROME, JAUNDICE and HAEMOCHROMATOSIS.pigmentation
Antonyms for pigmentation
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