melanosome

[ muh-lan-uh-sohm, mel-uh-nuh- ]
/ məˈlæn əˌsoʊm, ˈmɛl ə nə- /

noun Cell Biology.

an organelle in melanocytes that synthesizes and stores melanin.

Origin of melanosome

First recorded in 1935–40; melano- + -some3

Words nearby melanosome

melanophage, melanophore, melanoplakia, melanosis, melanosis coli, melanosome, melanospermous, melanotic, melanotic carcinoma, melanotic neuroectodermal tumor, melanotic whitlow

Medical definitions for melanosome

melanosome
[ mĕl′ə-nō-sōm′, mə-lăn′ə- ]

n.

Any of the usually oval pigment granules that are produced by melanocytes.