cuticle

cuticle
1. An outer thin layer, usually horny in nature. SYN: cuticula (1). 2. The layer, chitinous in some invertebrates, which occurs on the surface of epithelial cells. 3. SYN: epidermis. [L. cuticula, dim. of cutis, skin]
- acquired c., acquired enamel c. SYN: acquired pellicle.
- dental c. SYN: enamel c..
- enamel c. the primary enamel c., consisting of two extremely thin layers (the inner one clear and structureless, the outer one cellular), covering the entire crown of newly erupted teeth and subsequently abraded by mastication; it is evident microscopically as an amorphous material between the attachment epithelium and the tooth. SYN: adamantine membrane, cuticula dentis, dental c., membrana adamantina, Nasmyth c., Nasmyth membrane, skin of teeth.
- c. of hair SYN: cuticula pili.
- c. of nail the exposed distal prolongation of the corneal layer of the deep surface of the proximal nail fold (eponychium (2)), seen as a thin "skin" overlapping and adherent to the body of the nail at its proximal portion (the area of the lunula). It is formed as a remnant of the eponychium (1) which otherwise degenerates by the eighth month of pregnancy.
- Nasmyth c. SYN: enamel c..
- posteruption c. SYN: acquired pellicle.
- c. of root sheath SYN: cuticula vaginae folliculi pili.

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cu·ti·cle 'kyüt-i-kəl n
1) an outer covering layer: as
a) the outermost layer of integument composed of epidermis
b) the outermost membranous layer of a hair consisting of cornified epithelial cells
2) dead or horny epidermis (as that surrounding the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail)
cu·tic·u·lar kyu̇-'tik-yə-lər adj

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n.
1. the epidermis of the skin.
2. a layer of solid or semisolid material that is secreted by and covers an epithelium.
3. a layer of cells, such as the outer layer of cells in a hair.

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cu·ti·cle (kuґtĭ-kəl) [L. cuticula, from cutis skin] 1. a layer of more or less solid substance covering the free surface of an epithelial cell. 2. eponychium (def. 1).

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cuticle — Cu ti*cle (k[=u] t[i^]*k l), n. [L. cuticula, dim. of cutis skin; akin to E. hide skin of an animal.] 1. (Anat.) The scarfskin or epidermis. See {Skin}. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) The outermost skin or pellicle of a plant, found especially in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cuticle — 1610s, from L. cuticula, dim. of cutis skin, from PIE *ku ti , from root * (s)keu to cover, conceal (Cf. Lith. kiautas husk, O.E. hyd skin, hide; see HIDE (Cf. hide) (n.1)). Specialized sense of s …   Etymology dictionary

  • cuticle — ► NOUN 1) dead skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail. 2) the epidermis of the body. 3) a protective layer covering the epidermis of a plant or invertebrate. DERIVATIVES cuticular adjective. ORIGIN from Latin cuticula little skin …   English terms dictionary

  • cuticle — [kyo͞ot′i kəl] n. [L cuticula, skin, dim. < cutis, skin < IE base * (s)keu t , to cover > HIDE2] 1. the outer layer of the skin; epidermis 2. hardened skin, such as accumulates at the base and sides of a fingernail 3. Bot. a delicate,… …   English World dictionary

  • Cuticle — A cuticle (pronounced /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/), or cuticula, is a term used for 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 cuticles are non… …   Wikipedia

  • cuticle — cuticular /kyooh tik yeuh leuhr/, adj. /kyooh ti keuhl/, n. 1. the nonliving epidermis that surrounds the edges of the fingernail or toenail. 2. the epidermis. 3. a superficial integument, membrane, or the like. 4. Also called cuticula. Zool. the …   Universalium

  • cuticle — UK [ˈkjuːtɪk(ə)l] / US [ˈkjutɪk(ə)l] noun [countable] Word forms cuticle : singular cuticle plural cuticles a layer of hard skin at the base of a nail on a finger or toe …   English dictionary

  • Cuticle (disambiguation) — Cuticle, or cuticula (Latin for covering ), may refer to: Plant cuticle, or cuticula, a waxy polymeric film covering all aerial plant surfaces Cuticle (nail), in human anatomy, the fold of skin at the proximal end of the nail Cuticula… …   Wikipedia

  • Cuticle (hair) — The hair cuticle is the outermost part of the hair shaft.[1] It is a hard shingle like layer of overlapping cells, some five to twelve deep. It is formed from dead cells which form scales that gives the hair shaft strength and do the best job of… …   Wikipedia

  • cuticle — noun Etymology: Latin cuticula, diminutive of cutis skin more at hide Date: 1615 1. an outer covering layer: as a. an external envelope (as of an insect) secreted usually by epidermal cells b. the outermost layer of an …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cuticle — См. cuticula …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

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