1. is the "waxy" or "cheesy" white
substance found coating the skin of newborn humans. It is secreted by the fetus's sebaceous glands in utero, and is hypothesized to have antibacterial
properties."Vernix" is the Latin word for "varnish." The vernix varnishes the baby. "Caseosa" is "cheese" in Latin
Vernix is composed of sebum (the oil of the skin) and cells that have sloughed off the fetus' skin.
2. For
the town in France, see Vernix, Manche - commune of the Manche département, in France.