chromatophore

chromatophore definition - medical

chro·mat·o·phore (krō-mătˈə-fôrˌ)

noun
  1. A specialized pigment-bearing organelle in certain photosynthetic bacteria and cyanobacteria.
  2. A pigment-bearing phagocyte found chiefly in the skin, mucous membrane, and choroid coat of the eye, as well as in melanomas. Also called pigment cell.
  3. Variant of chromophore.

Related Forms:

  • chro·matˌo·phorˈic (-fôrˈĭk) adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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