eponychium

American  

[ep-uh-nik-ee-uhm] / ˌɛp əˈnɪk i əm /

noun

eponychia plural

1. Embryology. the modified outer layer of the epidermis that partially covers the fetal fingernails and toenails and that persists after birth as the cuticle.

2. Anatomy. a thin, cuticular fold extending over the lunula of a nail.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• eponychia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of eponychium

1880–85; < New Latin, equivalent to ep- ep- + onych- ( see onyx) + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

eponychium

Eponychium The cuticle of the fingernail is also called the eponychium.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

The nail fold that meets the proximal end of the nail body forms the nail cuticle, also called the eponychium.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013