A nail is a horn-like envelope covering the dorsal aspect of the terminal phalanges of fingers and

toes in humans, most non-humanprimates, and a few other mammals. Nails are similar to claws in
other animals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protective protein called keratin. This
protein is also found in the hooves and horns of different animals. The mammalian nail, claw, and
hoof are all examples of unguis [plural ungues].

Nail
Nail Anatomy
By Heather Brannon, MD
Updated May 28, 2014
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Germinal Matrix
Nail Matrix
Lunula Nail
Nail Root
Nail Bed
Poor Circulation
The fingernail is an important structure made of keratin that has 2 purposes. The fingernail acts as a protective plate and enhances
sensation of the fingertip. The protection function of the fingernail is commonly known, but the sensation function is equally
important. The fingertip has many nerve endings in it allowing us to receive volumes of information about objects we touch. The
nail acts as a counterforce to the fingertip providing even more sensory input when an object is touched.
Nail Growth
Nails grow all the time, but their rate of growth slows down with age and poor circulation. Fingernails grow faster than toenails at
a rate of 3mm per month. It takes 6 months for a nail to grow from the root to the free edge. Toenails grow about 1 mm per
month and take 12-18 months to be completely replaced.
Nail Structure
The structure we know of as the nail is divided into six specific parts - the root, nail bed, nail plate, eponychium (cuticle),
perionychium, and hyponychium. Each of these structures has a specific function, and if disrupted can result in an abnormal
appearing fingernail.
Nail Root
The root of the fingernail is also known as the germinal matrix. This portion of the nail is actually beneath the skin behind the
fingernail and extends several millimeters into the finger. The fingernail root produces most of the volume of the nail and the nail
bed. This portion of the nail does not have any melanocytes, or melanin producing cells. The edge of the germinal matrix is seen
as a white, crescent shaped structure called the lunula.
Nail Bed
The nail bed is part of the nail matrix called the sterile matrix. It extends from the edge of the germinal matrix, or lunula, to the
hyponychium. The nail bed contains the blood vessels, nerves, and melanocytes, or melanin-producing cells. As the nail is
produced by the root, it streams down along the nail bed, which adds material to the undersurface of the nail making it thicker. It
is important for normal nail growth that the nail bed be smooth. If it is not, the nail may split or develop grooves that can be
cosmetically unappealing.
Nail Plate
The nail plate is the actual fingernail, made of translucent keratin. The pink appearance of the nail comes from the blood vessels
underneath the nail. The underneath surface of the nail plate has grooves along the length of the nail that help anchor it to the nail
bed.
Cuticle
The cuticle of the fingernail is also called the eponychium. The cuticle is situated between the skin of the finger and the nail plate
fusing these structures together and providing a waterproof barrier.
Perionychium
The perioncyhium is the skin that overlies the nail plate on its sides. It is also known as the paronychial edge. The perionychium
is the site of hangnails, ingrown nails, and an infection of the skin called paronychia.
Hyponychium
The hyponychium is the area between the nail plate and the fingertip. It is the junction between the free edge of the nail and the
skin of the fingertip, also providing a waterproof barrier.



Parts of the Nail and
Pictures Human Finger
and Toe
The human nail is a plate of keratin that lies on the tips of the fingers and toes. The main
purpose of the nails are to protect the fingers and toes, however, the fingernail also assists
with certain physical activities in daily life.
The human nail is constantly growing and being removed by clipping or biting. In childhood,
it takes the nail about 3 months to grow out completely while this may take up to 6 months
in the elderly.
Like any part or organ of the human body, the condition of
the fingernails and toenails are dependent on the general health status. Therefore
changes and defects in the nails may be indicative of certain systemic diseases.
While the word nail is used to describe the nail bed, the entire human nail involves many
other parts, some of which are not visible from the exterior.

Parts of the Nail
Nail Matrix
The matrix is the source of the cells that become the keratinized layers of the nail plate. It
is located deep in the nail sinus. As new cells grow, it pushes out the nail plate replacing it
with new keratin at the proximal part of the nail plate that lies adjacent to the matrix.
Poor circulation, inadequate nutrition and localized or systemic diseases can affect the
growth of the new cells to make up the nail plate.
Nail Bed
The nail bed lies underneath most of the nail plate and is a continuation of the skin around
the nail. It contributes to the keratin of the nail plate although it is to a lesser degree than
the matrix. Blood in the dermal capillaries of the nail bed give the nail its characteristic light
pink color.
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Nail Plate
This the largest part of the nail and is composed of laminated layers of keratin. It is similar
in structure to human hair and skin and is made up of dead cells.
The proximal edge of the nail plate is the nail root which emanates from the nail sinus. It
extends across the fingers and toes to protrude from the tip (depending on the length). This
free end of the nail is also known as the distal edge, while the sides are known as the lateral
edges.
The nail plate is smooth and curved and light pink in color due to underlying dermal
capillaries in the nail bed. Changes in the nail color may be linked to various diseases which
are discussed underDiscolored Nails.
At times, ridges, lines, changes in thickness and discoloration may arise as a result of
disease. This is discussed further under Fingernail Ridges.
Non-pathlogical changes of the nail plate, include :
1. longitudinal lines or ridges which occurs with age.
2. beading, which is the loss of the smooth curved surface of the nail plate, may normally
occur with age although severe beading may be indicative of disease.
3. white dots, specks or lines on the nail plate (striae leukonychia) is a sign of airspaces within
the nail plate and is not related to a calcium deficiency.

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Nail Folds
1. The nail folds surround and supports the nail plate on all 3 sides. It is the junction of the
skin and nail plate and may sometimes be slightly darker in color thereby forming a clearly
demarcated margin from the surrounding skin.
2. The proximal fold lies over the nail root and matrix. The lateral nail folds extend from the
proximal folds and runs alongside the nail plate to terminate near the tip of the finger or
toe.
3. The most distal part of the lateral nail fold is often prone to trauma from mechanical injury,
nail biting and ingrown nails as well as bacterial and fungal infections. Inflammation and
swelling of the folds is known as paronychia.
Nail Cuticle
1. Also known as the eponychium, it is the part of the skin that overlaps onto the proximal
part of thenail plate. It provides some, although minor, support for the nail plate but more
importantly, the cuticle seals the nail sinus to prevent injury and infection of the nail root or
matrix.
2. The cuticle is usually thin, translucent and extends a short distance over the lunula or nail
bed. It has neat margins. Ragged cuticles or uneven cuticles may be the sign of excessive
manicuring, poor nail care with overuse of the hands or it can be a sign of certain
connective tissue diseases.
Nail Lunula
1. This is the crescent shaped area at the base of the nail plate and is usually pale white to
light pink in color. It is an extension of matrix and if most evident on the thumb. A lunula
with a pointy tip is possibly a sign of excessive manicuring.



Structure[edit]
Human nails

Fingernails

Toenails
The nail consists of the nail plate, the nail matrix and the nail bed below it, and the grooves
surrounding it.
[1]

Parts of the nail[edit]
The matrix, sometimes called
[2]
the matrix unguis, keratogenous membrane, nail matrix, or
onychostroma, is the tissue (or germinal matrix) which the nail protects.
[3]
It is the part of the nail bed
that is beneath the nail and contains nerves, lymph and blood vessels.
[4]
The matrix is responsible
for producing cells that become the nail plate. The width and thickness of the nail plate is determined
by the size, length, and thickness of the matrix, while the shape of the fingertip itself shows if the nail
plate is flat, arched or hooked.
[5]
The matrix will continue to grow as long as it receives nutrition and
remains in a healthy condition.
[4]
As new nail plate cells are made, they push older nail plate cells
forward; and in this way older cells become compressed, flat, and translucent. This makes the
capillaries in the nail bed below visible, resulting in a pink color.
[6]

The lunula ("small moon") is the visible part of the matrix, the whitish crescent-shaped base of the
visible nail.
[7]
The lunula can best be seen in the thumb and may not be visible in the little finger.
The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate.
[7]
Like all skin, it is made of two types of tissues: the
deeper dermis, the living tissue which includes capillaries and glands,
[8]
and the epidermis, the layer
just beneath the nail plate, which moves toward the finger tip with the plate. The epidermis is
attached to the dermis by tiny longitudinal "grooves"
[5]
called matrix crests (cristae matricis
unguis).
[3][8]
In old age, the nail plate becomes thinner so that these grooves become more visible.
[5]

The nail sinus (sinus unguis) is where the nail root is;
[3]
i.e. the base of the nail underneath the skin.
It originates from the actively growing tissue below, the matrix.
[4]

The nail plate (corpus unguis)
[3]
is the hard part of the nail, made of translucent keratin protein.
Several layers of dead, compacted cells cause the nail to be strong but flexible.
[5]
Its (transverse)
shape is determined by the form of the underlying bone.
[5]
In common usage, the word nail often
refers to this part only.
The free margin (margo liber) or distal edge is the anterior margin of the nail plate corresponding to
the abrasive or cutting edge of the nail.
[3]
The hyponychium (informally known as the "quick")
[9]
is
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.
[4]
The onychodermal band is the seal
between the nail plate and the hyponychium. It is just under the free edge, in that portion of the nail
where the nail bed ends and can be recognized by its glassy, greyish colour (in fair-skinned people).
It is not visible in some individuals while it is highly prominent on others.
[5]

Together, the eponychium and the cuticle form a protective seal. The cuticle is the semi-circular
layer of non-living, almost invisible dead skin cells that "ride out on" and cover the back of the visible
nail plate while the Eponychium is the fold of skin cells that produces the cuticle. It is the cuticle that
is removed during a manicure, but the Eponychium should not be touched due to risk of
infection.
[6]
The eponychium is a the small band of living cells (epithelium) that extends from the
posterior nail wall onto the base of the nail.
[3]
Theeponychium is the end of the proximal fold that
folds back upon itself to shed an epidermal layer of skin onto the newly formed nail plate.
[contradictory]
.
The perionyx is the projecting edge of the eponychium covering the proximal strip of the lunula.
[3]

The nail wall (vallum unguis) is the cutaneous fold overlapping the sides and proximal end of the
nail. The lateral margin (margo lateralis) lies beneath the nail wall on the sides of the nail and
the nail groove or fold (sulcus matricis unguis) are the cutaneous slits into which the lateral margins
are embedded.
[3]

The paronychium is the border tissue around the nail
[10]
and paronychia is an infection in this area.
Function[edit]
A healthy finger nail has the function of protecting the distal phalanx, the fingertip, and the
surrounding soft tissues from injuries. It also serves to enhance precise delicate movements of the
distal digits through counter-pressure exerted on the pulp of the finger.
[1]
The nail then acts as a
counterforce when the end of the finger touches an object, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the
fingertip,
[11]
even though there are no nerve endings in the nail itself. Finally, the nail functions as a
tool, enabling for instance a so-called "extended precision grip" (e.g. pulling out a splinter in one's
finger), and certain cutting or scraping actions.
Growth[edit]
The growing part of the nail is under the skin at the nail's proximal end under the epidermis, which is
the only living part of a nail.
In mammals, the length and growth rate of nails is related to the length of the
terminal phalanges (outermost finger bones). Thus, in humans, the nail of the index finger grows
faster than that of the little finger; and fingernails grow up to four times faster than toenails.
[12]

In humans, nails grow at an average rate of 3 mm (0.12 in) a month.
[13]
Fingernails require three to
six months to regrow completely, and toenails require 12 to 18 months. Actual growth rate is
dependent upon age, sex, season, exercise level, diet, and hereditary factors. Nails grow faster in
the summer than in any other season.
[14]
Contrary to popular belief, nails do not continue to grow
after death; the skin dehydrates and tightens, making the nails (and hair) appear to grow.
[15]