WHAT Vacation??

Dear Anatomy Wizard,

I am a melanocyte, residing in the epidermis. Every year the body I’m part of takes all of its cells…trillions of us…to the beach for spring break.  The brain cells get really excited about this, and they spend a lot of the trip relaxing, giddy on ethanol.  The skeletal muscles enjoy lying in a lounge chair by the ocean. The lungs enjoy the fresh salt air. Everyone loooooves the break….except me.

As soon as we hit the beach I am asked to work overtime with no days off (unless it rains…then I get a break).  This seems most unfair to me, and I wonder what I can do to rectify this obviously inequitable situation.

Signed, Would Have Rather Had a T-shirt

 

Dear melanocyte,

Synthesizing melanin must be exhausting work, but your endeavors are not in vain. You play a very crucial role in shielding the human body’s skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. You should not feel like the burden is solely your responsiibility. The human epidermis is REPLETE with an abundance of other melanocytes. You have dendrites (branches attached to you) that help relocate important pigment granules to other epidermal cells. Did you know you have neighbors called keratinocytes that aid you with your essential tasks? The keratinocytes produce the fibrous protein keratin, that help transfer necessary pigments that ultimately form a shield that defends the nucleus from detrimental ultraviolet radiation emanating from the sun’s rays. If it weren’t for your diligence, consistent vigil, and aid from keratinocytes, our epidermis would be susceptible to massive amounts of radiation damage, which can lead to harmful skin cancers. So you see melanocyte, even though you may think your situation is inequitable, you have a great deal of collaborators that provide you with much needed support. Your service is of great importance and necessary.

With much gratitude, Bio Buster

 

Dear Would Have Rather Had a T-shirt,

I can understand why you might feel a bit left out and unimportant, but let me assure you that this is not the case. Being a melanocyte, it is your responsibility to produce melanin in order to give color to the skin. As a result, the melanin that you produce helps protect skin cells from ultraviolet radiation. The reason you have to work overtime at the beach is because the body you’re part of is being overexposed to the sun. In order for him/her to not get damaged skin, you have to produce melanin and reduce your body’s chances of getting unhealthy skin. Of course that depends on the skin color of the body you’re in. If he/she is darker in skin tone, you have to produce plenty more melanin than if he/she has a fairer complexion. Although you may feel like you’re not PARTIAL to the body you are in, I can guarantee that you are very important during the summer. Just think of the wonderful break you’ll have in the winter and on all those rainy days when the other cells have so much to do.

Sincerely, Dr. Know It All

 

Au Contraire,

You are the ONLY line of defense for your “carrier” while on spring break even if it’s cloudy! The only way you’re getting a vacation is from the dark confines of a jail cell so lets hope your carrier likes to party hard! OK so seriously, you are the only shield between the sun’s harmful UV rays and your carrier and the darker they are the more you’ll work! I suppose you could just stop working and see how that goes! Your carrier would be miserable from the sunburn and more than likely spend more time inside. However, that may cause some ruckus in your neighborhood. For instance, if you decide to go hangout on the dark side of the moon (keratinocyte nucleus) then your superficial buddies (blood vessels) would be severely damaged. The GRIEVOUS cost of your absence would be great. Sometimes you just have to take one for the team and work a little over time. Just think…8 months from now you’ll be skiing down easy street in Colorado somewhere!

Signed, PANAMA