Body Piercing Glossary

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Facial Nerve

• The seventh cranial nerve, responsible for control of the muscles of the face.
• Damage to branches of this nerve during facial piercings can result in paralysis of facial muscles.

Fibroblast

• Cells produced by the body which manufacture collagen, the protein that gives tensile strength to wounds.
• A common error is to use povidine iodine, betadine and alcohol on wounds, all of which kill fibroblasts and so delay healing.

Finger Web

• The fold of skin on the ventral surface between the digits of the hand.
• The web between the thumb and index finger is commonly pierced.

Fistula

• A medical term for a passage through flesh lined by skin throughout its length.
• Any healed piercing is a fistula.
• Body piercing has as its goal the successful creation of fistulas, usually but not always to hold jewelry.

Foreskin

• The retractable skin folding over the head or glans of the penis in the uncircumcized male.
• The correct medical term is prepuce.

Frenum

• Also spelt "fraenum".
• A fold of skin supporting an organ, such as the frenum under the tongue

Frowney

• Lower lip frenulum piercing.
• This piercing passes through the fold of skin in the midline between the inside of the lower lip and the gum.