The living tissue under the free edge of the nail is the:

The living tissue under the free edge of the nail is the:

• A. Hyponychium
• B. Eponychium
• C. Nail bed
• D. Nail root

Answer: (A)

The living tissue under the free edge of the nail is the hyponychium. This area sits at the very tip of the finger beneath the edge of the nail plate and forms a protective seal that helps keep dirt and bacteria from getting underneath the nail while also aiding in anchoring the nail to the fingertip. The eponychium is the small skin at the proximal end that overlaps the nail plate (the cuticle), the nail bed is the tissue the nail plate lies on along most of its length, and the nail root is the part hidden under the skin at the base.

The living tissue under the free edge of the nail is the hyponychium. This area sits at the very tip of the finger beneath the edge of the nail plate and forms a protective seal that helps keep dirt and bacteria from getting underneath the nail while also aiding in anchoring the nail to the fingertip. The eponychium is the small skin at the proximal end that overlaps the nail plate (the cuticle), the nail bed is the tissue the nail plate lies on along most of its length, and the nail root is the part hidden under the skin at the base.