C5 nail structure, and growth

natural nails

The technical term is onyx. The Onyx is hard, protective plate composed of mainly keratin the natural nails located at the end of the finger or toe from free edge to first knuckle it is an appendage of the skin and part of the integumentary system their parents can reflect the general health of the body a normal, healthy nail is firm, but flexible, whitish and translucent in appearance with a pinkish or beige color of the nail bed below showing through water content is between 15 and 25%

Side wall

Also known as the literal nail fold

Proximal nail fold

The entire skin flat covering the matrix

Nail plate

Protects the tip of the fingers and toes appears to be one solid piece consists of about 100 layers of nail cells formed by the matrix cells

Free edge

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

Nail bed

Portion of living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows towards the free edge, richly supplied with blood vessels, contains many nerves and is attached to the nail plate by thin layer of tissue called bed epithelium

Bed epithelium

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

Matrix

The area where the now plate cells are formed, the matrix extends from under the nail fold at the base of the nail plate

Lunula

visible part of the matrix that extends from underneath the living skin

Cuticle

Is the dead colorless tissue attached to the natural nail plate

Eponychium

The living skin at the base of the natural nail plate, covering the matrix area, often mistaken for the cuticle

Hyponychium

They can layer between fingertip and free edge forms, a protective bear that prevents microorganisms from invading and infecting the nail bed

Ligament

Tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds an organ in place attaches the nail bed and matrix bed to the underlying bone

Growth of the nail plate

1/10 to 1/8“ per month grows more quickly in summer. Gross decreases with age growth increases during pregnancy. Toenail plates grow more slowly than fingernail plates. Middle finger grows fast thumb grow slow.

Growth patterns

As a person ages parts of the nails matrix begin to primarily slow down production now plate replacement takes about 4 to 6 months toenail plates take nine months to one year to be fully replaced. Pregnancy effects nail growth increasing dramatically during the last trimester.