vernix caseosa

American  

[vur-niks key-see-oh-suh] / ˈvɜr nɪks ˌkeɪ siˈoʊ sə /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. the fatty matter, consisting chiefly of dead epidermal cells and sebaceous secretions, covering the skin of a fetus and newborn.

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Etymology

Origin of vernix caseosa

< New Latin: cheeselike varnish

Example Sentences

To be more scientific and appropriate, I clarified that I meant the vernix caseosa, which is Latin for “cheeselike varnish”.

From The Guardian • May 12, 2016

The sebaceous glands of a human fetus in utero secrete a substance called vernix caseosa, a “waxy” or “cheesy” white substance coating the skin of newborns.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Sebaceous glands coat the skin with a waxy, protective substance called vernix caseosa that protects and moisturizes the skin and may provide lubrication during childbirth.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Through folklore, many women believe that the starch, in some fashion, enhances the production of vernix caseosa, thereby making delivery of their babies easier and quicker.

From Time Magazine Archive

This now has85 begun to disappear and the skin becomes brighter and is covered with a white, cheesy material called the vernix caseosa.

From Herself Talks with Women Concerning Themselves by Lowry, Edith B. (Edith Belle)