Ava Monroe
Your fingernails can reveal a lot about your health. Made from a tough protein called keratin, they protect your fingers from trauma. While changes in nail colour, texture, or shape can be harmless, they can also signal health problems. For example, white spots on nails are usually not harmful, but they can sometimes indicate zinc deficiency, a fungal infection, or even liver or kidney failure. Similarly, yellow nails are common and may be caused by dark nail polish, smoking, or an infection, but they can also be a sign of an underlying issue, such as yellow nail syndrome. Other nail issues, such as clubbing, where the nail becomes curved and rounded, can be an indicator of lung cancer or other serious conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Help with locomotion, enhance grip, protect fingertips, pick up small objects, scratch an itch, self-defence, remove pests, detect pressure changes, increase fingertip sensitivity, and indicate health status |
| Structure | Three layers of tissue made from a hardened protein called keratin |
| Colour | Ideally pink at the nail beds, with small, shallow vertical lines |
| Shape | Slightly rounded |
| Parts | Nail plate, nail bed, cuticle, nail folds, lunula, free edge |
| Growth | Fingernails grow twice as fast as toenails |
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What You'll Learn
Humans have fingernails because we're primates
Humans have fingernails because we are primates, and all primates have nails on their fingers and toes. In fact, our fingernails are extremely similar to those of monkeys. This is because we evolved from forest-dwelling species, and our broad-tipped fingers supported by a sturdy keratin plate were more useful than claws for grasping small branches while travelling across tree canopies and collecting fruit.
Claws can get in the way when grasping branches, whereas nails provide a rigid backing to the fingertips of primates, improving their grip. This is known as an extended precision grip, which allows us to perform tasks such as pulling out a splinter. Our fingernails also enhance our ability to perform fine motor movements such as scratching an itch, separating pages in a book, or picking up small items.
Fingernails also serve to protect the distal phalanx, the fingertip, and the surrounding soft tissues from injuries. They are made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, which also forms the claws, hooves, and horns of vertebrates. The nail consists of the nail plate, the nail matrix, and the nail bed below it, as well as the grooves surrounding it. The nail matrix is the active tissue that generates cells, which harden as they move outward from the nail root to the nail plate.
The existence of fingernails also helps to keep our fingertips from rolling backward when we hold something, and they can maintain their blood flow even when we are gripping something very tightly.
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They help us grip and pick things up
Our fingernails help us grip and pick things up. They are a tough plate of hardened cells, made from a protein called keratin, protruding from our finger ends. They provide a solid surface for the pads of our fingers to press against when we grip something tightly.
Fingernails are flattened versions of claws, and they evolved in all primates, including humans, to support broad fingertips. Monkeys, apes and lemurs spend a lot of time in trees, and broad fingertips help give them the strong grip needed to climb trunks and hang underneath branches. While claws would have provided an excellent grip for our smaller mammalian ancestors, they would have been a nuisance for larger-bodied primates trying to grasp smaller branches while reaching for fruit.
As primates, we inherited broad fingertips, and ours are even wider than those of our closest relatives, such as chimpanzees and orangutans. The reason for this dates back to the earliest days of human tool use: striking stones together to make tools requires a very powerful grip. Nails provide a rigid backing to primate fingertips to improve grasping.
Nails also help us judge how to hold things, detecting pressure changes and increasing the sensitivity of our fingertips. They are linked to a richly vascular system in our fingertips, with tiny blood vessels and an intricate network of nerves underneath.
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They are made of a hardened protein called keratin
Human nails are made of a hardened protein called keratin. This protein is also found in hair and skin, as well as in the claws, hooves, and horns of other vertebrates. Keratin forms the cells of our nails, hair, and skin, and it protects our nails from damage by making them strong and resilient. The process of nail growth begins inside a part of the fingertip called the nail root or nail matrix, where cells gradually die, harden, and are pushed out of the skin to form the nail plate. The nail plate, or nail body, is the hard, visible part of the nail that extends from the nail root to the free edge. It is made of translucent keratin protein and is composed of several layers of dead, compacted cells, which give the nail its strength and flexibility.
The shape and structure of the nail plate are influenced by the underlying bone, with the nail bed sitting on top of tiny blood vessels that provide nourishment and contribute to the pink colour typically associated with healthy nails. The lunula, or "small moon," is the whitish, crescent-shaped base of the nail that can be most easily observed in the thumb. It is the result of a reflection of light where the nail matrix and nail bed meet.
Nails serve several important functions, including protecting the distal phalanx, fingertip, and surrounding soft tissues from injuries. They also enhance precise movements of the distal digits through counter-pressure exerted on the finger pulp. Additionally, nails act as a tool, enabling an "extended precision grip" and facilitating certain cutting or scraping actions.
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They can indicate underlying health issues
Your fingernails can indeed indicate underlying health issues. While nail abnormalities are rarely the first sign of a health problem, keeping an eye on your nail health can help you catch problems early.
Colour
Changes in nail colour can signal health problems. For example, white nails, also known as leukonychia, can be the result of trauma, anemia, dietary deficiencies, heart or kidney disease, poisoning, or liver problems such as hepatitis. Nails with a bluish tint can mean the body isn't getting enough oxygen, indicating a lung problem such as emphysema, or heart problems. Yellow nails can be caused by a fungal infection, smoking, or yellow nail syndrome, a rare disorder that causes thick yellow nails and is associated with respiratory issues and limb swelling. Pale nails can indicate illnesses such as anemia, congestive heart failure, or liver disease, as well as poor nutrition.
Ridges and Lines
Horizontal ridges, or Beau's lines, indicate a pause in nail growth that could be related to a health issue. Causes include high fever, vitamin deficiency, injury, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, chemotherapy, or another severe illness. Vertical ridges are usually age-related and harmless. However, if accompanied by other symptoms such as colour changes, they may require further investigation. Black or dark brown/red lines, also called splinter hemorrhages, can be the result of trauma to the nail, but in rare cases, they could indicate underlying issues such as psoriasis, endocarditis, or nail melanoma.
Shape
Curved or "clubbed" nails can be associated with lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, or liver disease. Spoon nails, which are thin and concave, can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia, inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, or autoimmune disorders.
Texture
Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease. This can also be caused by dryness on the nail plate. Nail biting or picking has been linked to anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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They help us scratch itches and remove pests
Fingernails are made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in claws, hooves, and horns of vertebrates. They are an extension of the skin, providing a protective shield to the sensitive skin underneath. This protective function is particularly important when it comes to scratching itches and removing pests.
Fingernails enhance your ability to scratch and separate, such as pages in a book or hairs on your head. They also help you to pick up items. The strength and existence of fingernails help to keep your fingertips from rolling backward when you hold something.
The protective plate of the fingernail also prevents viruses and bacteria from entering the body. Fingernails have a greater blood flow than toenails, in part because they are closer to the heart. This can be useful when it comes to removing pests, as a good blood supply helps with healing if the skin is broken.
The fingernail can also act as a useful tool to remove pests from the body, such as ticks. The flat, hard surface of the nail plate can be used to scrape away insects without piercing the skin.
In addition, the appearance of fingernails can reveal clues about your health. For example, white nails, or leukonychia, could indicate liver or kidney problems, dietary deficiencies, or even poisoning. Yellow nails are often a sign of a fungal infection, while brittle nails can be a sign of hypothyroidism or iron deficiency. Physicians can use fingernails to diagnose various conditions, from dermatological problems to kidney disease or autoimmune disorders.
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Frequently asked questions
White nails, also known as leukonychia, can indicate trauma, anemia, dietary deficiencies, heart or
Yellow nails are often caused by a fungal infection. As the infection worsens, the nail bed may retract, and nails may thicken and crumble.
Dark lines beneath the nail may be caused by melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer. Seek medical advice as soon as possible if you notice this.
Curved or "clubbed" nails can be a harmless trait that runs in families, but they may also indicate lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, or liver disease.
Spoon-shaped nails can indicate an iron deficiency.
