The structure at the end of the nail that lies under the free edge is the:

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

Answer: (A)

Hyponychium is the structure at the end of the nail that lies under the free edge. It’s the thicker skin under the tip that forms a seal, helping keep dirt and moisture out of the nail bed as the nail grows. This area is distinct from the eponychium, which is the proximal cuticle at the base of the nail, the nail bed, which is the skin directly beneath the nail plate, and the nail root, the part hidden under the skin where growth begins.