human anatomy The human body is the structure of a human being. It is composed of many different types of cells that together create tissues and subsequently organ systems. They ensure homeostasis and the viability of the human body. It comprises a he ...

, the eponychium is the thickened layer of

skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other cuticle, animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have diffe ...

at the base of the fingernails and toenails. It can also be called the medial or proximal nail fold. The eponychium differs from the

cuticle A cuticle (), or cuticula, is any of a variety of tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings of an organism, or parts of an organism, that provide protection. Various types of "cuticle" are non- homologous, differing in their origin, structu ...

; the eponychium comprises live skin cells whilst the cuticle is dead skin cells. Its function is to protect the area between the nail and

epidermis The epidermis is the outermost of the three layers that comprise the skin, the inner layers being the dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis layer provides a barrier to infection from environmental pathogens and regulates the amount of water rele ...

from exposure to bacteria. The vascularization pattern is similar to that of

perionychium A nail is a claw-like plate found at the tip of the fingers and toes on most primates. Nails correspond to the claws found in other animals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protective protein called alpha-keratin, which is a polymer. ...

. In hoofed animals, the eponychium is the

deciduous hoof capsule In hoofed animals, the deciduous hoof capsule () is the eponychium in fetuses and newborn foals. It is a deciduous structure, which disappears as the animal grows. In equines ''Equus'' , is a genus of mammals in the family (biology), family ...

fetus A fetus or foetus (; plural fetuses, feti, foetuses, or foeti) is the unborn offspring that develops from an animal embryo. Following embryonic development the fetal stage of development takes place. In human prenatal development, fetal deve ...

es and newborn

foal A foal is an equine up to one year old; this term is used mainly for horses, but can be used for donkeys. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, and are used until the horse is three or four. When the foal i ...

s, and is a part of the permanent hoof in older animals. The word ''eponychium'' comes .

References

Nail anatomy {{anatomy-stub

See also

References