What is the anatomical position of the cuticle?

The correct answer is the skin at the base of the nail, which is known as the cuticle. This is the area of tissue that overlaps the nail plate and protects the area between the fold of the skin and the nail itself. The cuticle acts as a barrier to prevent pathogens from entering and causing infections, which is crucial for maintaining nail health.

Understanding the anatomical positioning of the cuticle is essential for proper nail care and hygiene practices in the field of nail technology. When performing services such as manicures or pedicures, it's important to respect the cuticle area to ensure client safety and comfort.

The other options describe areas related to the nails, but they do not accurately define the anatomical position of the cuticle. For example, the skin under the free edge refers to the area beneath the nail tip, which does not correspond to the cuticle. The skin on the nail surface pertains to the area of the nail plate itself, while the skin adjacent to the toenails would refer to the surrounding skin rather than specifically the cuticle at the base of the nail.