Sophia Delgado
The human nail is a protective plate found at the tip of the fingers and toes. It is made of a tough protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in the claws, hooves, and horns of other vertebrates. The nail consists of the nail plate, the nail matrix, and the nail bed, with the nail matrix producing cells that harden as they move outward to form the nail plate. The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate, containing blood vessels, nerves, and melanocytes that produce melanin. The nail bed is smooth when the nail grows properly, but can become ridged or split when it does not. The cuticle, a thin layer of skin, grows over the nail bed and provides a waterproof barrier. The hyponychium is the area between the nail plate and the skin of the fingertip.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is between the nail and the finger | The cuticle, the paronychium, the hyponychium, and the nail bed |
| What is the cuticle | A thin layer of skin that grows over the nail |
| What is the paronychium | The soft tissue border around the nail, where hangnails, ingrown nails, and paronychia, a skin infection, can occur |
| What is the hyponychium | The area between the free edge of the nail plate and the skin of the fingertip, which provides a waterproof barrier |
| What is the nail bed | The skin beneath the nail plate, containing blood vessels, nerves, and melanocytes that produce melanin |
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What You'll Learn
The nail plate is made of a hard substance called keratin
The nail plate, or the nail body, is the hard, translucent nail area from the nail root to the free edge. It is made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in the claws, hooves, and horns of vertebrates. The nail plate is formed by several layers of dead, compacted cells, which make the nail strong but flexible. The cells are created in the nail matrix, or the active tissue that generates cells, and harden as they move outward from the nail root to the nail plate. The nail matrix is also known as the matrix unguis, keratogenous membrane, or onychostroma. It is the part of the nail bed that is beneath the nail and contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels.
The matrix constantly produces new keratin, which gathers at the nail plate and slowly pushes the nail forward, causing it to grow. The nail plate is composed of two types of alpha-keratin: hard alpha-keratin and soft alpha-keratin. Hard alpha-keratin is derived embryologically from epithelial cells and is the main constituent of cornified mammalian tissues such as nails, hooves, and horns. Soft alpha-keratin is the main component of the epidermis of the skin and other epithelial tissues. In human nails, hard alpha-keratin makes up about 80% of the nail plate, while soft alpha-keratin accounts for the remaining 20%.
The nail plate is an important structure that provides protection to the phalanges, enhances dexterity, and facilitates scratching. It also serves an aesthetic and cosmetic purpose. The nail plate is strongly attached to the nail bed and does not contain any nerves or blood vessels. The free margin or distal edge is the anterior margin of the nail plate, which corresponds to the abrasive or cutting edge of the nail. The hyponychium, or the "quick," is the thickened portion of epithelium underlying the free edge of the nail plate. It forms a seal that protects the nail bed.
The nail plate is about half a millimeter thick and slightly curved. It is framed by the lateral nail folds on the left and right sides. The skin bordering the lower end of the nail is called the proximal nail fold, and a thin layer of skin, known as the cuticle, grows over the nail there. At the proximal nail fold, the nail is tucked into a pouch in the skin, referred to as the matrix. The lunula, or the "small moon," is the whitish crescent-shaped base of the visible nail, which is the visible part of the matrix.
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The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate
The nail bed, however, does contain nerves and blood vessels, which supply nourishment to the entire nail unit. The nail matrix, or the active tissue that generates cells, is also part of the nail bed. The cells produced by the nail matrix harden as they move outward from the nail root to the nail plate. As new nail plate cells are formed, they push the older cells forward, causing the nail to grow. This process also makes the capillaries in the nail bed visible, resulting in a pink colour.
The lunula, or the "small moon", is the whitish, crescent-shaped base of the visible nail. It is the visible part of the matrix and can be seen best in the thumb. The lunula appears white due to a reflection of light at the point where the nail matrix and nail bed meet. The eponychium, a small band of living cells, extends from the posterior nail wall onto the base of the nail, forming a protective seal with the cuticle. The cuticle is the semi-circular layer of almost invisible dead skin cells that cover the back of the nail plate.
The hyponychium is the thickened portion of the epithelium underlying the free edge of the nail plate. It is sometimes called the "quick", as in the phrase "cutting to the quick". The onychodermal band, a seal between the nail plate and the hyponychium, is formed by the eponychium and cuticle together.
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The nail matrix is the active tissue that generates cells
The nail is a protective plate found at the tip of the fingers and toes of all primates, corresponding to the claws in other tetrapod animals. The nail is made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in the claws, hooves, and horns of vertebrates.
The nail consists of the nail plate, the nail matrix, and the nail bed below it, along with the surrounding grooves. The nail matrix, also known as the matrix unguis, keratogenous membrane, or onychostroma, is the active tissue that generates cells. It is a part of the nail bed located beneath the nail and contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels.
The nail matrix is responsible for producing cells that become the nail plate. These cells harden as they move outward from the nail root to the nail plate, causing the nail to grow. The nail matrix will continue to produce new cells as long as it remains healthy and receives proper nutrition. This process of cell generation and hardening results in the formation of the hard and protective nail plate.
The lunula, which means "small moon" in Latin, is the visible part of the matrix. It appears as a whitish, crescent-shaped base at the bottom of the nail. The lunula is best seen on the thumb and may not be as noticeable on the little finger. The whitish appearance is due to the reflection of light where the nail matrix and nail bed meet.
The nail matrix is susceptible to various health conditions and injuries that can interfere with nail growth. For example, fungal infections, such as toenail fungus, can cause thick, yellow, cracked, or cloudy nails. Certain illnesses, like COVID-19 or pneumonia, can also disrupt nail growth and cause horizontal ridges known as Beau's lines. Additionally, injuries such as pinching or crushing the finger can damage the nail matrix and affect nail growth.
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The lunula is the white, moon-shaped part of the nail
The lunula, or "little moon" in Latin, is the white, moon-shaped part of the nail. It is the crescent-shaped white base of the visible nail, covering the bottom of the nail just above the cuticle. The lunula is the visible part of the nail matrix, the tissue just beneath the nail that contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. The matrix produces the cells that harden to become the nail plate, which is the technical term for the visible nail.
The lunula appears white due to a reflection of light at the point where the nail matrix and nail bed meet. The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate, made up of two types of tissue: the dermis and the epidermis. The nail bed supplies nourishment to the entire nail unit. The lunula is usually most visible on the thumb and may be barely visible on the little finger.
The size and appearance of the lunula can vary across each nail, and not everyone will have a lunula on each nail. Lunulae may also change in appearance or disappear due to various health conditions or vitamin deficiencies. For example, the lunulae may turn red in people with certain types of heart and lung disease, or blue in people with Wilson disease, a genetic disorder that causes a dangerous buildup of copper in the body. In some cases, the disappearance of the lunulae may be an early sign of a serious medical condition, so it is recommended to consult a doctor if you notice changes in your nail appearance along with other unusual symptoms.
Overall, the lunula is an important part of the nail structure, providing a window into the health of the nail matrix and, in some cases, offering clues about a person's overall health.
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The cuticle is a thin layer of skin that grows over the nail
The cuticle is a thin layer of clear dead skin that grows around the edge of your fingernails and toenails. It is located at the nail bed, which is the area of skin beneath the nail plate. The cuticle forms between the eponychium (the living tissue attached to the nail plate) and the nail plate itself.
The cuticle creates a tight seal between the eponychium and the nail plate, preventing bacteria, dirt, and fungus from seeping beneath the nail and causing infection. Without cuticles, nails would be susceptible to infection from foreign bodies. Cuticles are also important because they help to keep the nail in place as it grows.
Cuticles are directly below the lunula, the light half-moon-shaped area shimmering through the nail plate at the base of the nail. The lunula is the visible part of the matrix, the area where the nail is tucked into a pouch in the skin. The matrix is the active tissue that generates new cells, which harden as they move outward from the nail root to the nail plate.
It is important to take care of your cuticles and not cut or remove them, as this can cause them to grow back quickly and contribute to overgrowth. Overgrown cuticles can lead to other issues, such as infection. To prevent cuticles from overgrowing, it is recommended to gently push them back every few days after showering when the area is softer.
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Frequently asked questions
A nail is made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer also found in the claws, hooves, and horns of vertebrates.
A nail serves to protect against infections or injuries, while adding functional abilities such as scratching, and improving sensation and dexterity.
The white crescent shape at the base of the nail is called the lunula, which means "small moon" in Latin.
The area between the nail and the skin of the fingertip is called the hyponychium.
