Pigmentation

Pigmentation
The coloring of the skin, hair, mucous membranes, and retina of the eye. Pigmentation is due to the deposition of melanin which is a coloring matter. The melanin is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. Other pigmented terms include hyperpigmentation (too much pigment), hypopigmentation and underpigmentation (too little pigment), and depigmentation (loss of pigment).
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Coloration, either normal or pathologic, of the skin or tissues resulting from a deposit of pigment.
- arsenic p. generalized but spotty increased melanin p. of the skin in chronic arsenic poisoning.
- exogenous p. discoloration of the skin or tissues by a pigment introduced from without.

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pig·men·ta·tion .pig-mən-'tā-shən, -.men- n coloration with or deposition of pigment esp an excessive deposition of bodily pigment

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n.
coloration produced in the body by the deposition of one pigment, especially in excessive amounts. Pigmentation may be produced by natural pigments, such as bile pigments (as in jaundice) or melanin, or by foreign material, such as lead or arsenic in chronic poisoning.

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pig·men·ta·tion (pig″mən-taґshən) 1. the deposition of pigment. 2. abnormal discoloration of a part by a pigment; see also dyschromia and hyperpigmentation.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • pigmentation — [ pigmɑ̃tasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1865; du bas lat. pigmentatus 1 ♦ Biol. Formation et accumulation, normale ou pathologique (⇒ nævus), de pigments en certains points de l organisme. La pigmentation de l iris. Cour. Coloration de la peau par la mélanine… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Pigmentation — Pig men*ta tion, n. (Physiol.) A deposition, esp. an excessive deposition, of coloring matter; as, pigmentation of the liver. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pigmentation — (n.) 1866, from PIGMENT (Cf. pigment) + ATION (Cf. ation) …   Etymology dictionary

  • pigmentation — [pig΄mən tā′shən] n. [< LL pigmentatus, colored (< L pigmentum) + ION] coloration in plants or animals due to the presence of pigment in the tissue …   English World dictionary

  • pigmentation — [[t]pɪ̱gmente͟ɪʃ(ə)n[/t]] N UNCOUNT The pigmentation of a person s or animal s skin is its natural colouring. [FORMAL] I have a skin disorder, it destroys the pigmentation in my skin …   English dictionary

  • pigmentation — (pigh man ta sion) s. f. Action de colorer par un pigment. La pigmentation de la peau …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • pigmentation — pig|men|ta|tion [ˌpıgmənˈteıʃən] n [U] technical the natural colour of living things ▪ The dark pigmentation gives protection from the sun s rays …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • pigmentation — noun (U) 1 the colouring of plant or animal cells caused by too much pigment 2 the colouring of living things: Pigmentation is biologically inherited …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • pigmentation — n. coloration produced in the body by the deposition of one pigment, especially in excessive amounts. Pigmentation may be produced by natural pigments, such as bile pigments (as in jaundice) or melanin, or by foreign material, such as lead or… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • pigmentation — pigment ► NOUN 1) the natural colouring matter of animal or plant tissue. 2) a substance used for colouring or painting. ► VERB ▪ colour with or as if with pigment. DERIVATIVES pigmentary adjective pigmentation noun. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

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