Milady CIMA Ch.05 Nail Structure & Growth

Identify a difference between the cuticle and the eponychium.

The cuticle is the dead tissue stuck to the nail plate, whereas the eponychium is the living skin under the proximal nail fold found at the nail plate's base covering the matrix area.

Which of the following statements is TRUE of the nail plate?

It is the hardened keratin plate that rests on top of the nail bed.

Which of the following is TRUE of nail growth rates?

Nail growth rates generally decrease with age.

The natural nail is technically called the ______________.

Onyx

Identify a function of the hyponychium.

It forms a protective barrier that keeps microorganisms from infecting the nail bed.

All parts of the finger from the tip to the first knuckle; technically referred to as the "onyx" & is composed mainly of keratin:

Natural Nail Unit

Technical term for nails of the fingers or toes:

Onyx

Collectively; the nail bed (or sterile matrix); nail fold, eponychium, & hyponychium:

Perionychium

Folds of skin that surround the nail plate:

nail folds

Slit or furrow on the sides of the nail:

Nail groove

AKA the "sidewall"; folds of skin that line the sides of the nail plate:

lateral nail fold

Abbreviated "PNF"; entire flap of skin covering the matrix, extending from the edge of the visible nail plate to the first joint of the finger or toe:

proximal nail fold

Hard keratin plate on top of & slowly sliding across the nail bed as it grows; the most visible & functional part of the nail unit:

nail plate

Part of the nail plate that extends over the tip of the finger or toe:

free edge

Portion of living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows toward the free edge:

nail bed

Thin layer of tissue between the nail plate & the nail bed:

bed epithelium

Area where the nail plate cells are formed; composed of matrix cells that produce the nail plate:

matrix

Visible part of the matrix that extends from underneath the living skin; whitish, half-moon shape at the base of the nail:

lunula

Nonliving, colorless tissue attached to the nail plate:

cuticle

Living skin underneath the PNF found at the nail plate's base covering the matrix area:

eponychium

Slightly thickened layer of skin that lies between the fingertip & free edge of the nail plate, forming a protective barrier that prevents microorganisms from invading & infecting the nail bed:

hyponychium

Tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds an organ in place:

ligament

The technical term that encompasses the entire nail bed, nail fold, eponychium, paronychium, & hyponychium:

peronychium

A slit or furrow on the sides of the nail:

Nail groove

The skin folds that surround the nail plate:

nail fold

Helps guide the nail plate along the nail bed as it grows:

bed epithelium

Shows the true color of the matrix:

lunula

Prevents infection in the matrix:

cuticle

The entire skin flap covering the matrix:

proximal nail fold (PNF)

AKA a "sidewall"; the skin overlapping the nail's side:

lateral nail fold

Produces new nail plate cells:

matrix

Supports the nail plate as it grows toward the free edge:

nail bed

True or False: The thumbnail is the fastest-growing nail.

False

True or False: It typically takes nine months to a year for a complete replacement of a toenail.

True

True or False: For healthy nail maintenance in later life, it is necessary to file the ridges that develop in the nail plate.

False

True or False: Infection of the matrix can change the nail plate's shape.

True

True or False: A typical adult's nail growth rate is MORE than 1/5 inch (5.2 mm) per month.

False

True or False: Although toenails grow slower than fingernails, they are thicker because the toenail matrix is longer than the matrix found on fingernails.

True

You are an expert hired to consult on the production for a documentary film entitled "A Handful of Nails: See How They Grow." The director, Angel, wants you to help them structure the film based on your knowledge of nail growth.

Scenario for next 5

Because the nail plate is the "hero" of the film, Angel wants to know what affects the nail plate's growth. What do you tell them will affect the nail plate's growth?

overall health

Angel is trying to cast the film using hand models. They are interested in a particular hand model but would prefer that the model's nail plate be thicker. What could you say that will help with their casting decision?

Nothing can make the nail plate grow thicker.

Angel's star is named Kim, a hand model. They plan to use time-lapse filming to show the dramatic growth of Kim's nails over a month & want to choose the new month when Kim's nails will grow the fastest. They will be filming in New York. What would be a good month for Angel to shoot?

July

Using time-lapse photography, Angel's movie features a comic "race" between Kim's nails, set to thrilling music. They want to know which nail will win the race. Which one do you tell them will grow the fastest on Kim's hand?

The middle finger

After filming starts, Angel calls you in a panic. The hand model Kim, the movie's star, is pregnant. They have no idea how this will affect their movie. What can you accurately tell Angel will be true of their pregnant star's nail growth?

Taking prenatal vitamins will NOT increase Kim's nail growth at all.

The area under the nail plate typically has a ____ appearance in the area that extends from the lunula to the area just before the free edge of the nail.

pinkish

How long does the complete replacement of a fingernail take?

4-6 months

Normal, healthy nails grow in what shape?

They can grow in a variety of shapes

The lunula is the visible part of the _____________.

matrix

The folds of normal skin that surround the nail plate are called _________________.

nail folds

Nail growth rates tend to increase dramatically during the ____________ trimester of pregnancy.

last

The nail plate is constructed of about ___________ layers of nail cells.

100

The nail plate is ___________________.

relatively porous to water

Which of the following attaches the nail bed to the nail plate?

bed epithelium

A normal, healthy nail is ___________________.

flexible

The natural nail is composed mainly of the same fiber protein found in __________.

hair

Compared to the fingernail matrix, the toenail matrix is ________________.

longer

The __________ is the portion of living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows toward the free edge.

nail bed

What does cuticle remover do?

remove cuticle tissue

Ridges are most likely to occur in _____________ clients.

older

The nail of which finger typically grows fastest?

middle finger

As a professional cosmetologist, when are you ALLOWED to cut a client's skin?

never

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

9-12 months

A healthy nail grows ______________.

forward from the matrix

The hardened keratin plate covering the nail bed is called the ____________________.

nail plate

The surface of a normal, healthy nail __________________.

has no grooves

Nails typically grow the FASTEST during which season?

summer

The nail plate ____________________.

slowly slides across the nail bed as it grows

The lower the water content in the nail, the _______________ it becomes.

more rigid

A longer matrix produces a __________________.

thicker nail plate

Cuticle softeners are NOT designed for the ________________.

cuticle

A typically adult's nails grow about ________ inch per month.

[1/8]

The cuticle's job is to __________________.

form a seal between the PNF and nail plate

Answering yes to which of the following questions tells you that the tissue is the proximal nail fold, NOT the cuticle?

Is the tissue any part of the skin that covers the nail plate and matrix?

The appearance of the nails is said to reflect the ______________ of the body.

general health

After delivering a child, a woman's nail growth ________________________.

slows down dramatically

Compared to adults' nails, children's nails _____________________.

grow more quickly

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

ligament