Studies on melanocytes. VI. Melanocytes in the middle ear.
Melanocytes are present in the lamina propria of the middle ear mucosa of young children to elderly adults in both whites and blacks. Melanin pigment melanin pigment also is seen in the epithelial cells, so-called melanogenic metaplasia. The melanocytes in the middle ear mucosa are of neural crest origin and their presence explains melanocytic tumors at this anatomic site.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology