Noah Sinclair
Fingernails are made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in claws, hooves and horns in animals. Keratin is a protective protein that forms the cells of our hair and skin, and it helps our nails grow. The nail consists of the nail plate, the nail matrix and the nail bed below it, and the grooves surrounding it. The nail plate is the hard, visible part of the nail, made of translucent keratin protein. The nail matrix is the active tissue that generates cells, and the nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate, containing nerves, lymph and blood vessels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | A tough rigid protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer also found in claws, hooves, and horns of vertebrates |
| Parts | Nail plate, nail matrix, nail bed, nail root, nail folds, lunula, cuticle, hyponychium, onychodermal band |
| Nail Plate | The hard nail area from the nail root to the free edge, made of translucent keratin protein |
| Nail Matrix | The active tissue that generates cells. The width and thickness of the nail plate are determined by the size, length, and thickness of the matrix |
| Nail Bed | The skin beneath the nail plate. It contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels that supply nourishment to the nail unit |
| Nail Root | The part of the nail that is not visible and from where the nail plate emerges |
| Nail Folds | The skin that supports and frames the nail on three sides |
| Lunula | The white or whitish crescent-shaped base of the visible nail |
| Cuticle | A thin waterproof membrane that seals the nail plate to the fingertip and acts as a barrier to infections |
| Hyponychium | The epithelium located beneath the nail plate at the junction between the free edge and the skin of the fingertip. It forms a seal that protects the nail bed |
| Onychodermal Band | The seal between the nail plate and the hyponychium |
| Growth Rate | The average growth rate of fingernails is 3.5 mm per month, while that of toenails is approximately 1.6 mm per month |
| Regrowth Time | Fingernails require 3-6 months to regrow completely, while toenails require 12-18 months |
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What You'll Learn
The role of fingernails
Fingernails are made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in claws, hooves, and horns. The nail plate, or the part of the nail that is visible, is made of translucent keratin protein. Several layers of dead, compacted cells cause the nail to be strong but flexible. The shape of the nail plate is determined by the form of the underlying bone, while the width and thickness are determined by the size, length, and thickness of the matrix.
Fingernails serve multiple purposes. Firstly, they protect the distal phalanx, fingertip, and surrounding soft tissues from injuries. This protective function is similar to the role of claws in other animals. Secondly, fingernails enhance the sensitivity of the fingertip, allowing for more precise delicate movements. This is achieved through counter-pressure exerted on the pulp of the finger. Thirdly, fingernails act as tools, enabling an "extended precision grip" for tasks such as pulling out a splinter or certain cutting or scraping actions.
In addition to these practical functions, fingernails also serve an aesthetic and cosmetic purpose. The nail industry is a multi-billion-pound industry focused on keeping nails looking good. Furthermore, fingernails can provide important clues about an individual's health status, lifestyle, and recreational habits. They can even indicate whether a person is stressed.
The growth rate of fingernails is influenced by various factors, including age, sex, season, exercise level, diet, and hereditary factors. On average, fingernails grow at a rate of approximately 3.5 mm per month, with the nail of the index finger typically growing faster than that of the little finger. If a fingernail falls off due to injury, it typically takes about six months for it to regrow completely.
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What fingernails are made of
Fingernails are made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in claws, hooves, and horns in animals. Keratin is a type of protein that makes up about 20% of our bodies and helps cells perform different tasks, such as building fingernails and toenails. The process of nail formation begins in the nail root, located a few millimetres behind the cuticle, where cells die, harden, and are pushed out of the skin to form the nail plate. This is why cutting your nails does not hurt—the nail plate consists of dead, compacted cells that give the nail strength and flexibility.
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 strongly attached to the nail bed, which lies beneath it, and does not contain any nerves or blood vessels. The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate, consisting of the dermis and epidermis, and is responsible for supplying nourishment to the nail unit. The lunula, or "small moon," is the whitish, crescent-shaped base of the visible nail, which can be best observed in the thumb.
The matrix, or nail matrix, is the active tissue that generates cells and is located beneath the nail bed. It continues to produce cells as long as it remains healthy and receives proper nutrition. As new nail plate cells are formed, they push older cells forward, compressing them and giving rise to the capillaries in the nail bed, which lend a pinkish hue to the nails. The width and thickness of the nail plate are determined by the size and thickness of the matrix, while the shape of the fingertip bone determines the shape of the nail.
Fingernails have several functions, including protecting the distal phalanx, fingertip, and surrounding soft tissues from injuries. They also enhance the sensitivity of the fingertip and facilitate precise, delicate movements of the fingers. Additionally, fingernails serve aesthetic and cosmetic purposes and can be used as tools for various tasks, such as picking up small objects or peeling fruits.
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Fingernail growth rate
Fingernails are made of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer also found in claws, hooves, and horns. The nail plate, or the nail body, is the hard, visible part of the nail, made of translucent keratin protein. The nail plate is strongly attached to the nail bed and does not contain any nerves or blood vessels. The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate, containing nerves and blood vessels that supply nourishment to the nail unit.
The growth rate of fingernails is related to the length of the terminal phalanges (outermost finger bones). The nail of the index finger grows faster than that of the little finger, and fingernails grow up to four times faster than toenails. On average, fingernails grow at a rate of approximately 3.5 mm per month, while toenails grow at about half that rate, with an average monthly growth of 1.6 mm. It takes about three to six months for fingernails to regrow completely, and twelve to eighteen months for toenails.
The actual growth rate of nails can vary depending on several factors, including age, sex, season, exercise level, diet, and hereditary factors. For example, nails grow faster in the summer than in winter, and an active hand may experience faster nail growth due to increased blood circulation. Additionally, right-handed individuals may notice faster nail growth on their right hand, and vice versa, due to the increased activity of that hand.
While it is a common misconception that nail growth rate increases during pregnancy, it has been found that nails become thicker during this time rather than growing faster. However, there is an exception where a woman's nails and hair might grow faster than a man's during pregnancy.
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Fingernail health
Fingernails are made of a protein called keratin, which is also found in hair and skin. Keratin is a tough, hardened protein that forms from dead cells being compacted and pushed out of the skin by the formation of new cells. This process begins in the nail root or matrix, located a few millimetres behind the cuticle, and results in the familiar fingernail shape.
Fingernails are more than just a protective covering for the tips of our fingers. They are linked to a vascular environment of blood vessels, soft tissue, cellular activity, and ligaments. This means that they can provide important clues about our overall health. For example, white nails, or leukonychia, can be a sign of trauma, anaemia, dietary deficiencies, or even heart, kidney, or liver disease. Similarly, yellow nails are often a sign of a fungal infection.
The appearance of our fingernails can also indicate lifestyle and recreational habits, as well as whether we are stressed. For instance, smoking, using nail varnish, and even cooking with certain spices can stain nails. Additionally, frequent use of our hands can make our nails more prone to minor trauma, such as tapping them on a table or using a keyboard.
Fingernails also have functional benefits. They help us judge how to hold things by detecting pressure changes and increasing the sensitivity of our fingertips. This is why we have them; humans are primates, and we evolved from forest-dwelling species that needed nails for various tasks.
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Fingernail structure
The fingernail is a protective plate found at the tip of the fingers and toes of all primates. It is made up of a tough, rigid protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in claws, hooves, and horns in animals. The nail consists of the nail plate, the nail matrix, and the nail bed below it, with the grooves surrounding it.
The nail plate, also known as the 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 consists of several layers of dead, compacted cells, which give the nail its strength and flexibility. The shape of the nail plate is determined by the form of the underlying bone.
The nail matrix, or matrix unguis, is the active tissue that generates nail cells. It is located beneath the nail plate and contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. As new nail plate cells are formed, they push older cells outward, causing them to harden and flatten as they move towards the nail plate. The width and thickness of the nail plate are determined by the size, length, and thickness of the matrix.
The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate, made up of two types of tissues: the dermis and the epidermis. It contains tiny blood vessels called capillaries, which give the nail its pinkish colour. The nail bed provides nourishment to the entire nail unit and serves as a protective layer for the fingertip and surrounding soft tissues.
The lunula is the whitish, crescent-shaped base of the visible nail, best seen on the thumb. It is the visible part of the matrix and appears white due to the reflection of light where the matrix and nail bed meet.
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Frequently asked questions
Fingernails are made of a tough, rigid, hardened protein called alpha-keratin, which is also found in hair, skin, and nails in animals.
The nail matrix, or lunula, is the part of the nail bed that sits beneath the nail and contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. This is where new cells are generated and harden as they move outward, pushing out the old cells to form the hardened fingernail.
Fingernails grow at an average rate of 2 to 3.5 mm per month and take about 4 to 6 months to fully regenerate.
Fingernails provide a protective shell for our fingertips and enhance the sensitivity of our fingertips, helping us to judge how to hold things. They also serve as tools for an "extended precision grip" and certain cutting or scraping actions, such as pulling out a splinter.
