Eponychium
Eponychium
Eponychium (pronunciation: /ˌepəˈnɪkɪəm/), also known as the cuticle or the proximal nail fold, is a thin layer of tissue that covers the base of the nail and protects it from bacteria and other foreign substances.
Etymology
The term "Eponychium" is derived from the Greek words "epi-", meaning "upon", and "onyx", meaning "nail".
Anatomy
The Eponychium is part of the nail matrix, the area where the nail grows from. It is made up of two types of tissue: the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, and the stratum lucidum, a clear layer of skin that lies beneath the stratum corneum.
Function
The primary function of the Eponychium is to protect the nail matrix from damage and infection. It acts as a barrier to prevent bacteria and other foreign substances from entering the nail matrix.
Related Terms
- Nail (anatomy): The hard, protective covering at the end of the fingers and toes.
- Nail matrix: The area from which the nail grows.
- Stratum corneum: The outermost layer of the skin.
- Stratum lucidum: A clear layer of skin that lies beneath the stratum corneum.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Eponychium
- Wikipedia's article - Eponychium
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski