chromatophore

chromatophore
1. A colored plastid, due to the presence of chlorophyll or other pigments, found in certain forms of protozoa. 2. Melanophage; a pigment-bearing phagocyte found chiefly in the skin, mucous membrane, and choroid coat of the eye, and also in melanomas. 3. SYN: chromophore. 4. A colored plastid in plants; e.g., chloroplasts, leukoplasts, etc. [chromato- + G. phoros, bearing]

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chro·mato·phore krō-'mat-ə-.fō(ə)r, krə-, -.fȯ(ə)r n
1) a pigment-bearing cell esp. in the skin
2) the organelle of photosynthesis in photosynthetic bacteria (as the cyanobacteria): CHROMOPLAST, CHLOROPLAST
chro·mato·phor·ic -.mat-ə-'fōr-ik, -'fȯr- adj

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n.
a cell containing pigment. In humans chromatophores containing melanin are found in the skin, hair, and eyes.

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chro·mato·phore (kro-matґo-for″) [chromato- + -phore] 1. a pigment cell of the skin, such as a melanocyte or melanophore. 2. a color-producing plastid found in certain plants and protozoa.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • chromatophore — ● chromatophore nom masculin Cellule pigmentée du tégument, contribuant à donner leurs couleurs à la peau humaine et aux animaux. ⇒CHROMATOPHORE, CHROMOPHORE, adj. et subst. masc. I. Adj. Qui porte la couleur. Tissu chromatophore (Roussy ds Nouv …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Chromatophore — Chro ma*to*phore , n. [Gr. ?, ?, color + fe rein to bear.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A contractile cell or vesicle containing liquid pigment and capable of changing its form or size, thus causing changes of color in the translucent skin of such animals as… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chromatophore — chromatophore. См. хроматофор. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • chromatophore — pigment cell, 1864, from chromato , Latinized comb. form of Gk. khroma (gen. khromatos) color (see CHROMA (Cf. chroma)), denoting color or chromatin + Gk. phoros bearing, bearer, from pherein to carry (see INFER (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • chromatophore — [krō mat′ə fôr΄, krō′mə tə fôr΄] n. [ CHROMATO + PHORE] 1. a special animal cell, usually dermal, that contains pigment granules: it is often capable of expansion and contraction in such a manner that the skin color changes, as in the chameleon 2 …   English World dictionary

  • Chromatophore — Zebrafish chromatophores mediate background adaptation on exposure to dark (top) and light environments (bottom). Chromatophores are pigment containing and light reflecting cells found in amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans, and cephalopods.… …   Wikipedia

  • Chromatophore — Chromatophores de Poisson zèbre à l obscurité (au dessus) et à la lumière (en dessous). Les chromatophores sont des cellules pigmentaires ou réfléchissant la lumière prése …   Wikipédia en Français

  • chromatophore — a dermal pigment cell; sometimes seen in the epidermis. Aggregation or dispersion of the pigment by expansion or contraction of a circular muscle surrounding an individual chromatophore effects color changes. Chromatophores are of two types,… …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • chromatophore — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: circa 1859 1. a pigment bearing cell; especially one of the cells of an animal integument capable of causing integumentary color changes by expanding or contracting 2. the organelle of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Chromatophore — Farbzellen oder Pigmentzellen oder Chromatophoren sind Zellen, die meistens an der Körperoberfläche liegen und Farbpigmente enthalten. Viele Organismen können durch eine Veränderung der Form der Farbzellen oder durch eine Verlagerung der Pigmente …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • chromatophore — n. [Gr. chroma, color; phoreus, bearer] A single highly branched cell or synctia containing pigment granules that may disperse in the branches or concentrate in the center and effect color changes in various invertebrates …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

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