Pigmentary, as an adjective, describes something that is of, pertaining to, having, or producing pigment. In simpler terms, it relates to color and the substances that create color.
This term is often used in fields like:
-
Biology and Medicine: Describing conditions affecting skin pigmentation, such as pigmentary glaucoma or pigmentary disorders. These conditions involve changes in the production or distribution of melanin (the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color).
-
Art and Chemistry: Referring to the properties of pigments used in paints, dyes, and other coloring agents. This includes considerations like lightfastness (resistance to fading), hue, and saturation.
Here's a breakdown:
- Of pigment: Relating directly to pigment itself (e.g., "pigmentary composition").
- Pertaining to pigment: Concerning pigment (e.g., "pigmentary analysis").
- Having pigment: Containing pigment (e.g., "pigmentary cells").
- Producing pigment: Creating pigment (e.g., "pigmentary glands").
Therefore, when you see the word "pigmentary," think of color and anything related to the substance that provides that color.
