Paronychia is best described as inflammation around which part?

Paronychia is best described as inflammation around which part?

• A. The Base of the Nail
• B. The Nail Plate
• C. The Fingertip Pad
• D. The Cuticle

Answer: (A)

Paronychia is inflammation around the nail, specifically the soft tissue at the base where the proximal and lateral nail folds meet the nail plate. This area around the base of the nail is what becomes irritated or infected, not the nail plate itself. The fingertip pad sits away from the nail area, and while the cuticle is part of the region at the nail base, the term describes inflammation of the surrounding tissue rather than the cuticle alone. So, inflammation around the base of the nail best fits what paronychia is.

Paronychia is inflammation around the nail, specifically the soft tissue at the base where the proximal and lateral nail folds meet the nail plate. This area around the base of the nail is what becomes irritated or infected, not the nail plate itself. The fingertip pad sits away from the nail area, and while the cuticle is part of the region at the nail base, the term describes inflammation of the surrounding tissue rather than the cuticle alone. So, inflammation around the base of the nail best fits what paronychia is.