Nail (anatomy) - Wikipedia
A nail is a protective plate characteristically found at the tip of the digits (fingers and toes) of all primates, corresponding to the claws in other tetrapod animals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough rigid protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer also found in …
Nail | Structure, Function, Growth | Britannica
Oct 3, 2024 · Nail, in the anatomy of humans and other primates, horny plate that grows on the back of each finger and toe at its outer end. It corresponds to the claw, hoof, or talon of other vertebrates. The nail is a platelike, keratinous, translucent structure that consists of highly specialized epithelial.
Parts of the Nail: Structure and How They Grow - Verywell Health
Feb 1, 2024 · The parts of the nail, whether at your fingers or toes, follow a basic structure. This nail anatomy serves to protect against infections or injury, while adding functional ability (like scratching) and improving sensation and dexterity (self-defense and other skill with your hands).
Nail Anatomy: Structure, Function, Associated Diseases - Health
Feb 22, 2024 · Nail anatomy includes the nail plate, nail bed, and surrounding tissue. The fingernails and toenails help protect the tips of your fingers and toes and improve fine motor skills.
Why Do We Have Nails? The Important Roles They Play - Healthline
Apr 22, 2020 · Fingernails play several important roles in the body that may provide a sign as to why we have them. These include: Strengthening. The hard, outer covering on the tips of the fingernails makes...
Fingernails: Do's and don'ts for healthy nails - Mayo Clinic
Jan 22, 2022 · Your fingernails — composed of laminated layers of a protein called keratin — grow from the area at the base of the nail under your cuticle. Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They're uniform in color and consistency and free of …
11 Facts About Fingernails - Mental Floss
Jul 13, 2018 · Along with skin and hair, nails are part of the body's integumentary system, whose main function is to protect your body from damage and infection. Fingernails have four basic structures: the...
What Are Nails Made Of? And 18 Other Facts About Your Nails - Healthline
Apr 13, 2023 · Your nails are made from a protein known as keratin, unlike bones, which are made mostly of collagen. Keratin protects nails from damage by making them strong and resilient. Keratin forms the...
In brief: Structure of the nails - InformedHealth.org - NCBI Bookshelf
Jul 29, 2024 · The nail is framed by the lateral nail folds on the left and right side of it. The skin bordering the lower end of the nail is called the proximal nail fold. A thin layer of skin, known as the cuticle, grows over the nail there.
Human skin - Nail Structure, Growth, & Care | Britannica
Sep 7, 2024 · Nails have a root, buried beneath the skin; a plate that is firmly attached to a nail bed underneath; and a free edge. Depending upon its thickness and the quality of its surface, the nail plate may be pink or whitish; the nail itself is translucent and colourless, allowing the colour of the blood in the superficial capillaries of the nail bed ...