Nail Technology Chapter 4

Which of the following would be considered a medical condition that should be seen by a physician and NOT a nail tech?

paronychia

Which of the following is NOT considered one of the reasons that nail technicians must differentiate between healthy and unhealthy client’s nails?

You must be able to identify conditions that are affected by the weather conditions and humidity.

The _____ is the hard protective plate that protects the tips of the fingers or toes.

nail plate

Nails are part of _____.

the integumentary system

What part of the natural nail unit protects the tips of the fingers and toes?

nail plate

Angela is training to be a nail technician. While she is working on a client, her manager stops her because she’s about to clip too close to the eponychium. What might Angela have confused the eponychium for?

the nail cuticle

The natural nail itself is technically referred to as the _____.

onyx

The _____ is composed mainly of keratin.

onyx

What are the characteristics of a normal, healthy nail?

firm and flexible

What color is NOT normal for a healthy nail?

reddish

The natural nail unit is which part of the nail?

the tip to the first knuckle

Which of the following is NOT a part of the natural nail unit?

the onyx

The lateral nail fold is also known as _____.

the sidewall

The proximal nail fold is the entire flap of skin that covers what?

the matrix

The nail plate has approximately how many layers?

50

What is the water content of a healthy nail?

15-25 percent

What is the visible part of the matrix that extends from underneath the living skin?

lunula

Cuticle moisturizers are designed for all EXCEPT:

cuticle

What is the slightly thickened layer of skin that lies between the fingertip and the free edge of the nail plate?

hyponychium

A _____ is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds an organ in place.

ligament

The _____ is the part of the nail plate that extends over the tip of the finger or toe.

free edge

What is the relationship between water content and the nail?

The lower the water content, the more rigid the nail becomes.

What is the living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows toward the free edge?

nail bed

What helps guide the nail plate along the nail bed as it grows?

the bed epithelium

Why must the hyponychium be treated gently?

If the hyponychium is damaged, and infection under the nail plate is possible.

The growth of the nail plate is affected by all of the following EXCEPT:

exercise

A normal nail plate grows forward from the _____ and extends over the tip of the finger.

matrix

How would you compare the relationship between the matrix and the plate?

The length, width, and curvature of the matrix determine the thickness, width, and curvature of the plate.

What is the average rate of nail plate growth in normal adults per month?

1/10” to 1/8” per month

During what time of year do nail plates grow fastest?

summer

Which nail grows the fastest?

middle

Which nail grows the slowest?

thumb

How would you compare fingernail and toenail growth and the matrix?

Toenails are thicker than fingernails because the toenail matrix is longer.

How long does it take for toenail plates to be fully replaced?

9 to 12 months

How long does it take for fingernail plates to be fully replaced?

4 to 6 months

Which of the following groups of people would have the fastest growing nails?

children

During which scenario do nail growth rates increase dramatically?

last trimester of pregnancy

Stephanie is pregnant. She is talking to her nail tech friend Charlie about how wonderful her prenatal vitamins have been for her hair and nail growth. What could Charlie tell Stephanie about her nail growth?

Nail growth rates accelerate during pregnancy whether she is taking a prenatal or not.

What is the relationship between nail cell production and plate growth?

The faster nail cells are produced, the faster the plate will grow.

How would you recommend a person make his or her nail plate grow thicker?

Nothing can make the nail plate grow thicker.

What can affect the shape or thickness of the nail plate?

Damage to the matrix will affect the shape and thickness of the nail plate.

Which of the following disorders is associated with depressions running across the width of the nail plate due to a slowing production of matrix cells, which causes the nail plate to grow thinner and is usually the result of serious illness or injury?

Beau’s lines

Which of the following disorders is associated with a noticeably thin, white nail plate that is more flexible than normal and is usually caused by improper diet, heredity, internal disease, medication, or overfiling with an abrasive?

eggshell nail

Which of the following disorders is associated with dark purplish spots usually due to a small injury to the nail bed?

bruised nail bed

Which of the following disorders is associated with the nail turning a variety of colors, which may indicate surface staining, a systemic disorder, or poor blood circulation?

discolored nail

Which of the following diseases is associated with rapidly growing and contagious bacteria that can cause an infection, and which in early stages is associated with a yellow-green spot?

pseudomonas aeruginosa

Which of the following diseases is associated with fungal infections of the feet, or athlete’s foot?

tinea pedis

Which of the following diseases is associated with the separation of the nail plate and bed due to injury or allergic reactions?

onycholysis

Which of the following diseases is associated with bacterial inflammation of the tissues around the nail plate, causing pus, swelling, and redness?

paronychia

Which type of glove is recommended for nail techs?

nitrile

Which type of disorder is associated with visible redness, pain, swelling, broken skin, or pus?

infected finger

Which type of disorder is associated with whitish spots of discoloration of the nails and is usually caused by minor injury to the nail matrix?

leukonychia

Which type of disorder is associated with damaged skin around the nail plate that becomes split or torn?

hangnails

Which type of disorder is associated with significant darkening of the fingernails or toenails caused by increased pigment cells?

melanonychia

What type of disorder is associated with a dramatically increased nail curvature of the free edge, wherein it might curl in upon itself?

pincer nail