Final answer:
The cuticle, also known as the eponychium, is the overlapping tissue around the nail that helps seal and protect the nail from infections. The correct option is 4) overlapping tissue around the nail
Step-by-step explanation:
The location of the cuticle is described as overlapping tissue around the nail. This structure also referred to as the eponychium, is a fold of epithelium that meets the proximal end of the nail body.
The cuticle plays a crucial role in protecting the nail matrix by sealing the edges of the nail plate, thus helping to prevent infection of the underlying tissues.
The nail bed is a vital component beneath the nail plate, which appears pink due to the rich blood vessels beneath except for the lunula, a crescent-shaped region at the base.
The nail matrix is a layer of living epidermal tissue at the proximal end of a nail where growth occurs, and the cuticle or eponychium is the overlapping tissue that seals the gap between the nail plate and the surrounding skin. The correct option is 4) overlapping tissue around the nail