Final answer:
The tissue beneath the free edge of the nail (distal edge) is known as the hyponychium, which is a thickened layer of stratum corneum.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tissue beneath the free edge of the nail also called the distal edge, is known as the hyponychium. It is a thickened layer of stratum corneum that lies underneath the nail plate and helps to protect the underlying tissues from infection. The nail matrix, which is a deep layer of epidermal tissue located at the proximal end of the nail, is where the nail growth occurs. The nail body, which is the main keratinous plate of the nail, is formed on the nail bed, and the hyponychium is part of the nail bed that extends past the nail body, under the free margin or edge