Which cells are responsible for the color of skin, hair, and eyes?

• A. Melanocytes
• B. Langerhans cells
• C. Keratinocytes
• D. Fibroblasts

Answer: (A)

Melanocytes in the epidermis synthesize melanin, the pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. These cells reside in the basal layer and transfer melanin to neighboring keratinocytes, distributing pigment throughout the epidermis. The coloration you see depends on how much melanin is produced and how it’s distributed, plus the type of melanin (eumelanin and pheomelanin). Genetics and sun exposure regulate this activity, not the sheer number of pigment cells. Other cells don’t influence color: Langerhans cells are immune sentinels in the epidermis, keratinocytes form the protective outer layer, and fibroblasts in the dermis produce connective tissue.