noun, plural ep·o·nych·i·a [ep-uh–nik-ee-uh] /ˌɛp əˈnɪk i ə/,
- Embryology. the modified outer layer of the epidermis that partially covers the fetal fingernails and toenails and that persists after birth as the cuticle.
- Anatomy. a thin, cuticular fold extending over the lunula of a nail.
n.
- The condensed eleidin-rich areas of the epidermis preceding the formation of nails in the embryo.
- The thin skin adhering to the nail at its base.