Nail

Nail (Anatomy)

A nail is a tough protective plate made up of keratin, a protein, that covers the dorsal aspect of the terminal phalanges of fingers and toes in humans and most other primates.

Pronunciation

/neɪl/

Etymology

The word "nail" comes from the Old English nægl, which is from the Proto-Germanic *naglaz.

Structure

Nails are composed of a hardened protein called keratin, which is also found in the skin and hair. The nail consists of several parts including the nail plate, the nail bed, the cuticle, the nail folds, the lunula, and the matrix.

Nail Plate

The nail plate is the hard and translucent part, composed of keratin. It is strong and flexible, with a pinkish color due to the underlying capillaries.

Nail Bed

The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate. It contains blood vessels and nerves.

Cuticle

The cuticle is a layer of clear skin located along the bottom edge of the nail plate.

Nail Folds

The nail folds are the skin that frames and supports the nail on three sides.

Lunula

The lunula is the whitish half-moon shape at the base of the nail.

Matrix

The matrix is the tissue which the nail protects. It is the part of the nail bed that is beneath the nail and contains nerves, lymph and blood vessels.

Function

Nails protect the fingertips and the tissue surrounding them from injuries. They also enhance precise movements of the digits by counteracting the force exerted by the fingertip pad.

Related Terms

• Keratin
• Cuticle
• Lunula
• Matrix

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Nail
• Wikipedia's article - Nail

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