Figure 4

Melanin distribution ratios between the different layers as a function of the dendrite length. As the length of the dendrite, x, grows, the ratio of reached volume in each layer changes (a). In b) these ratios are plotted versus the dendrite length. With short dendrites (x₁) all melanin is delivered to the basal layer. As the dendrite is growing, more is delivered to stratum spinosum (x₂), and when they are long enough they also distribute melanin to the stratum granulosum (x₃).