Melan Health Dictionary

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Melan: From 1 Different Sources

(melano-) combining form denoting 1. black coloration. 2. melanin. Example: melanaemia (the presence in the blood of melanin).
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Melancholia

A mental illness in which the predominant symptom is melancholy, depression of spirits, unhappiness and misery... melancholia

Melanoma

Any tumour of melanin-pigmented cells. Usually has highly malignant properties.... melanoma

Malignant Melanoma

See MELANOMA.... malignant melanoma

Melanin

Pigment which confers colour on the SKIN, hair and EYE. It is produced by cells called melanocytes interspersed along the basal layer of the EPIDERMIS. The maturation of the epidermis into stratum corneum cells packed with melanin granules confers an ultraviolet light barrier which protects the skin against the harmful effects resulting from continued solar exposure. The races do not di?er in the number of melanocytes in their skin, only in the rate and quantity of melanin production. Exposure to bright sunlight stimulates melanin production and distribution causing ‘suntan’. A hormone from the PITUITARY GLAND may stimulate melanin production on the face in pregnancy (see CHLOASMA).... melanin

Melanocyte

Clear branching cell in the epidermis of the SKIN that produces tyrosinase (an ENZYME) and MELANIN.... melanocyte

Diospyros Melanoxylon

Roxb.

Synonym: D. dubia Wall. ex A. DC.

Family: Ebenaceae.

Habitat: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Peninsula.

English: Coromandel Ebony, Persimmon.

Ayurvedic: Tinduka (var.), Dirgha- patrakaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Karum Dumbi, Thumbi, Beedi-elai.

Action: Leaves—carminative, laxative, diuretic, styptic. Bark— astringent. Used in dyspepsia and diarrhoea. Unripe fruit— carminative and astringent. Ripe fruit—antibilious. Dried flowers— used in anaemia, inflammation of spleen, also in leucorrhoea. Leaf and dried flower—used in dyspepsia and diarrhoea, topically in scabies. Aerial parts—hypotensive.

Half-ripe fruit contains 23, ripe fruit 15 and bark 19% tannin.

The bark and sapwood extracts yield beta-sitosterol, lupeol, betulin and be- tulinic acid. Leaves contain hentria- contane, hentriacontanol, alpha-amy- rin, baurenol, ursolic, oleanolic and be- tulinic acids.... diospyros melanoxylon

Melanctha

(Greek) Resembling the black flower

Melancthia, Melancthea... melanctha

Melangell

(Welsh) A sweet messenger from heaven

Melangelle, Melangela, Melangella, Melangele, Melangel... melangell

Melanie

(Greek) A dark-skinned beauty Malaney, Malanie, Mel, Mela, Melaina, Melaine, Melainey, Melana, Melanee, Melaney, Melani, Melania, Melanney, Melannie, Melany, Mella, Mellanie, Melli, Mellie, Melloney, Melly, Meloni, Melonie, Melonnie, Melony, Melaena, Melanea, Malanea, Melonea... melanie

Melantha

(Greek) Resembling a dark-violet flower

Melanthe, Melanthia, Melanthea, Malantha, Mallantha, Mellantha... melantha

Melanoma, Juvenile

A raised, reddishbrown skin blemish which sometimes appears on the face or legs in early childhood (see naevus). Although they are usually harmless, an unsightly growth,or one suspected of being skin cancer, can be removed surgically.... melanoma, juvenile

Melanoma, Malignant

The most serious of the 3 types of skin cancer, the other 2 being basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Malignant melanoma is a tumour of melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, and is due to long-term exposure to strong sunlight. There are an increasing number of new cases and deaths in the each year from this skin cancer.

Tumours usually develop on exposed skin but may occur anywhere on the body. A melanoma usually grows from an existing mole, which may enlarge, become lumpy, bleed or crust over, change colour, develop an irregular edge, turn into a scab, or become itchy. Occasionally, a melanoma develops in normal skin. The tumour often spreads to other parts of the body. Diagnosis is by a skin biopsy and the melanoma is removed surgically. Radiotherapy or anticancer drugs may also be necessary.... melanoma, malignant

Melanosis Coli

Black or brown discoloration of the colon lining, associated with chronic constipation and prolonged use of certain laxative drugs, such as senna, rhubarb, and cascara.

The discoloration is most common in elderly people and is usually symptomless, clearing up when the laxatives are stopped.

Rarely, it is associated with colon cancer (see colon, cancer of).... melanosis coli

Melanism

(melanosis) n. an unusually pronounced darkening of body tissues caused by excessive production of the pigment *melanin. For example, melanism may affect the hair, the skin (after sunburn, during pregnancy, or in *Addison’s disease), or the eye.... melanism

Melanocyte-stimulating Hormone

(MSH) a peptide hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. In humans it stimulates production and dispersal of melanin in the melanocytes. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (?-MSH), which is released by neurons in the hypothalamus, suppresses appetite and regulates energy balance. It also stimulates sexual activity and is involved in regulation of heart rate and blood pressure.... melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Melanonychia

n. blackening of the nails with the pigment *melanin.... melanonychia

Melanophore

n. see melanin.... melanophore

Melanoplakia

n. pigmented areas of *melanin in the mucous membrane lining the inside of the cheeks.... melanoplakia

Melanosis

n. 1. see melanism. 2. a disorder in the body’s production of the pigment melanin. 3. *cachexia associated with the spread of the skin cancer *melanoma. —melanotic adj.... melanosis

Melanuria

n. the presence of dark pigment in the urine. This may be caused by the presence of melanin or its precursors, in some cases of *melanoma; it may alternatively be caused by metabolic disease, such as *porphyria.... melanuria

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