melano

Melano is a term used in several contexts. In biology and medicine, melano- is a prefix derived from the Greek melas meaning black or dark. It is used to form terms related to pigmentation and pigment cells, including melanin, melanocytes, melanosomes, and melanoma.

Melanin is the pigment responsible for coloration in skin, hair, and eyes, produced by melanocytes in the skin. Melanosomes are the cellular organelles within melanocytes where melanin is synthesized and stored. Melanocytes are specialized cells that generate pigment, while melanoma is a malignant skin cancer that can arise from these cells. Melanogenesis denotes the biochemical process by which melanin is produced.

Geography is another use of the name. Melano is the name of a municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. It is one of the many Italian-speaking communities that make up the canton’s local administrative structure.

Because Melano appears in different domains, the meaning is usually evident from context. When used in a scientific setting, melano- signals pigmentation or dark coloration; as a place name, it refers to a Swiss municipality.