Parts of a Nail
- Nail Point. The nail points are diamond-shaped, that’s valid for general use and makes it easy to drive the nails.
- Head. The top of the nail is called the head, it is designed to accept the pointed end of the nail, making it easy to counter the nail without ...
- Shank. The nail shank is the part that does most of the holding. ...
- Nail Coating. ...
What are the parts of a fingernail called?
- expanded apical pads (fingertips),
- developed epidermal ridges ( fingerprints ),
- broadened distal parts of distal phalanges (fingertip bones), and
- reduced flexor and extensor tubercles (attachments areas for finger muscles on bones).
What part of the nail is responsible for nail growth?
- Parts. Each nail has a free edge, a body (visible attached portion), and a root (embedded in the skin).
- Nail folds. The borders of the nail are overlapped by skin folds, called nail folds.
- Cuticle. The thick proximal nail fold is commonly called the cuticle.
- Nail bed. ...
- Nail matrix. ...
- Color. ...
- Lunula. ...
What helps fingernails get stronger?
Top 8 Vitamins and Nutrients for Healthy, Strong Nails
- Biotin. Biotin is a B-complex vitamin, also known as vitamin B7, coenzyme R and vitamin H. ...
- Other B Vitamins. Other B vitamins are also important for nail health. ...
- Iron. Iron composes the center of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your organs and every cell in your body — including your nails.
- Magnesium. ...
- Protein. ...
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids. ...
- Vitamin C. ...
- Zinc. ...
What are the parts of a toenail?
Toenails grow much more slowly, at just 1 millimeter per month. It takes a toenail 12 to 18 months to grow from root to tip. 1 The nail structure is divided into six parts: root, nail bed, nail plate, eponychium, paronychium, and hyponychium.
What are the major parts of the nail?
The nail structure is divided into six parts: root, nail bed, nail plate, eponychium, paronychium, and hyponychium. Each of these six components has a specific function, and if a component of the nail structure is disrupted, the nail can look abnormal.
What are the 4 parts of nails?
-The nail plate: The visible hard part of the nail. - Nail folds: The skin that frames each of your nail plates on three sides. -The nail bed: The skin beneath the nail plate. The cells at the base of your nail bed are the ones that actually produce the fingernail or toenail plate.
What are the 5 parts of the nail?
Structure and FunctionNail Folds. The nail folds are soft tissue structures that protect the lateral and proximal edges of the nail plate. ... Mantle. The mantle is the skin covering the matrix and base of the nail plate.Cuticle. ... Nail Matrix. ... Nail Plate. ... Nail Bed. ... Hyponychium. ... Onychodermal Band.
What are nails main function?
What Do Nails Do? Nails protect the sensitive tips of fingers and toes. We don't need our nails to survive, but they do support the tips of our fingers and toes, protect them from injury, and help us pick up small objects. Without them, we'd have a hard time scratching an itch or untying a knot.
What are the nails 2 functions?
Functions of Nails Both fingernails and toenails protect the soft tissues of the fingers and toes from injury. Fingernails also serve to enhance sensation and precise movements of the fingertips through the counter-pressure exerted on the pulp of the fingers by the nails.
What are nails made out of?
Fingernails and toenails are made from skin cells. Structures that are made from skin cells are called skin appendages. Hairs are also skin appendages. The part that we call the nail is technically known as the “nail plate.” The nail plate is mostly made of a hard substance called keratin.
What is white part of nail called?
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula. Lunulae cover the bottom of your nail, just above your cuticle. Lunulae are part of your nail matrix. The matrix refers to the tissue just beneath your nail.
What part of nail is cuticle?
The cuticle is a layer of clear skin located along the bottom edge of your finger or toe. This area is known as the nail bed. The cuticle function is to protect new nails from bacteria when they grow out from the nail root. The area around the cuticle is delicate.
What are nails made of?
Nails themselves are made of keratin (say: KAIR-uh-tin). This is the same substance your body uses to create hair and the top layer of your skin. You had fingernails and toenails before you were even born.
What are hangnails?
What is a hangnail? Even though it's called a hangnail, that little piece of skin isn't part of the nail. Instead, it's a torn piece of skin that hangs loose next to your nails. And it's rare to have hangnails on your toes, though, it does happen from time to time. “A hangnail is really short,” says Dr.
What is a lunula?
The lunula is the visible portion of the distal nail matrix that extends beyond the proximal nailfold. It is white, half-moon-shaped, appears by week 14 of gestation, has unique histologic features. The lunula has a primary structural role in defining the free edge of the distal nail plate.
What are the shapes of nails?
The main seven types of nail shapes you can opt for are: oval, almond, square, squoval, coffin (also known as ballerina), stiletto (or pointed nails) and that old friend, round.
What is the cuticle of the nail?
Cuticle. A thin layer of dead tissue riding on the nail plate to form a seal between the nail plate and eponychium to prevent pathogens from infecting the matrix area. The cuticle pulls away from the underside of the eponychium and attaches tenaciously to the nail plate.
How many layers of keratin are in a nail?
The average person has 50 layers of keratin cells that make up the nail plate.
What is the proximal fold?
The proximal fold is a required guardian seal that prevents germs and bacteria from getting to the nail matrix, where new cells are created . I always know when girls are cutting. Their entire cuticle line is red and inflamed. Basically, their eponychium is infected all the time.
What is the moon in nail polish?
A bluish-white, opaque area that is visible through the nail plate. This area is the front part of the nail matrix. Sometimes, it’s called the “moon.”
Where does the solehorn cuticle attach?
The solehorn cuticle pulls away from the underside of the hyponychium and attaches tenaciously to the nail plate.
Where is the living skin at the base of the nail plate?
Living skin at the base of the nail plate that covers the matrix area. This should NOT be confused with the “cuticle”.
Can nail technicians name the parts of a nail?
Not only is the general public confused about the names for the parts of the natural nail, but many nail technicians are not able to name the various major parts and know their function.
What is nail anatomy?
Nail Anatomy: A Professional Primer on the Parts of the Nail. Basic nail anatomy is a must for working techs. Learn the essential parts of the nail, from base to tip and everything in between. Basic nail anatomy is one of the first things you learn in school and a big focus of your state board exam.
What is the skin around the nail called?
The perionychium is the skin surrounding the nail and it’s frequently a problem area. “It’s prone to hangnails and it’s where most clients will pick or bite which can lead to infection,” says Los Angeles-based celebrity nail tech Michelle Saunders.
What is the proximal nail fold?
To that end, the proximal nail fold is a fold of skin that forms a protective barrier to keep bacteria and infection from reaching the matrix. The eponychium is the visible “lip” of the proximal nail fold. It forms a seal with the nail plate, protecting the matrix from harmful bacteria. Many people mistakenly refer to the eponychium as the cuticle, ...
Why is the nail plate thin?
The nail plate can become thin, weak and sensitive when layers are removed by filing or improper enhancement removal. The lateral nail fold is the continuation of the proximal nail fold along each side of the nail. It serves to protect the sides of the nail plate. The perionychium is the skin surrounding the nail and it’s frequently a problem area.
What is the skin that forms the seal between the nail plate and the nail bed where the free edge begins?
The hyponychium is the skin that forms the seal between the nail plate and the nail bed where the free edge begins. This area is very vascular and sensitive, so avoid aggressively cleaning under the free edge with implements. Not only is this painful and will bleed a lot if the skin is cut, but damaging the hyponychium can cause onycholysis, ...
What is the nail bed?
The nail bed is the skin underneath the nail plate. It contains blood vessels that supply nutrients to the fingertip. Sometimes, people confuse the nail bed with the nail plate, as in, “Oh, you have such pretty nail beds,” but the compliment is likely meant for the nail plate, rather than the skin it rests on.
Where is the cuticle of the nail?
The cuticle is the layer of translucent skin that is shed from the underside of the proximal nail fold as the nail grows . This skin emerges from beneath the eponychium attached to the nail plate. Since this tissue is dead, most of it can be safely cut or filed off—and, in fact, you should!
What are the parts of the nail?
Nails have three main parts: the nail plate, the nail bed, and the nail matrix. The nail plate is the hard part of the nail, composed of layers of dead cells. The nail bed sits beneath the nail plate. Like skin elsewhere in the body, the nail bed is skin with a layer of epidermis and a layer of dermis.
What is the nail bed?
The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate. Like all skin, it is made of two types of tissues: the deeper dermis, the living tissue which includes capillaries and glands, and the epidermis, the layer just beneath the nail plate, which moves toward the finger tip with the plate.
What are the parts of the nail?
The nail structure is divided into six parts: root, nail bed, nail plate, eponychium, paronychium, and hyponychium. Each of these six components has a specific function, and if a component of the nail structure is disrupted, the nail can look abnormal. Nail root: The root of the nail is also known as the germinal matrix.
What is the function of the nail?
They enhance the sensation. The fingers and toes contain nerve endings that allow the body to process the volumes of information that it receives every time something is touched—and the nail acts as a counterforce, providing even more sensory input after a person touches something.
What is the site of hangnails, ingrown nails, and paronychia?
The paronychium is the site of hangnails, ingrown nails, and paronychia, a skin infection. Hyponychium: The hyponychium is the area between the free edge of the nail plate and the skin of the fingertip. It also provides a waterproof barrier.
What is the cuticle of the finger?
The cuticle is situated between the skin of the finger and the nail plate. It fuses these structures together and provides a waterproof barrier. Perionychium: The paronychium is the skin that overlaps onto the sides of the nail plate, also known as the paronychial edge.
How fast do fingernails grow?
Fingernails grow faster than toenails, at a rate of 3 millimeters per month. It takes six months for a fingernail to grow from the root to the free edge. Toenails grow much more slowly, at just 1 millimeter per month.
Why do nails look pink?
The pinkish appearance of the nail comes from the blood vessels that are underneath it . The underside of the nail plate has grooves that run along the length of the nail and help anchor it to the nail bed. Eponychium: The eponychium is more commonly known as the cuticle.
Why are nails important?
They help humans function. Nails are basically flat versions of claws that help humans dig, climb, scratch, grab, and more. They guard against injuries. They serve as protective plates that help prevent the fingers and toes from getting cut or scraped during daily activities. They enhance the sensation.
What are the parts of a nail?
Each nail has several parts, including: -The nail plate: The visible hard part of the nail. - Nail folds: The skin that frames each of your nail plates on three sides. -The nail bed: The skin beneath the nail plate. The cells at the base of your nail bed are the ones that actually produce the fingernail or toenail plate.
What is the part of the nail that covers the base of the nail plate?
Dr. Doris Day, MD. Dermatology. Nails consist of the nail plate, which is the part you see; the cuticle, which is the tissue that covers the base of the plate; the nail bed, which is the skin beneath the nail plate; the nail folds, the skin that supports the nails on all three sides; the lunula; which is the “moon” at the base of the plate;
What is the nail plate?
Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease) Each nail has several parts, including: • nail plate: the visible hard part of the nail. • nail folds: the skin that frames the nail plate on three sides. • nail bed: the skin beneath the nail plate - The cells at the base of your nail bed are the ones that actually produce the fingernail or toenail plate.
What is the area underneath the cuticle called?
It protects the new keratin cells that slowly emerge from the nail bed. The area underneath the cuticle is called the matrix. -The lunula: The whitish, half-moon shape at the base of your nail underneath the plate.
