Indiana PSI Nail Technician Practice Test

Which is the living tissue that grows up to the base of the nail plate?

1. Matrix

2. Lunula

3. Eponychium

4. Hyponychium

The correct answer is: Eponychium

The living tissue that grows up to the base of the nail plate is known as the eponychium. This tissue acts as a protective barrier for the nail matrix, which is the area beneath the base of the nail where new nail cells are generated. The eponychium serves to protect the underlying structures from infection and damage as the nail grows. In contrast, the matrix is the tissue from which the nail grows and is located under the nail fold, but it is not the tissue itself that extends up to the nail plate. The lunula is the visible part of the matrix that shows at the base of the nail, typically a lighter crescent shape, but it is not living tissue that directly meets the nail plate. The hyponychium is the area of skin beneath the free edge of the nail, also not growing up to the nail plate. This makes the eponychium the correct answer as the living tissue that grows directly to the base of the nail plate, providing both protection and structure for healthy nail growth.