NAIL STRUCTURE

The nail is composed of horny, flattened cells which undergo a process of keratinisation, giving it a hard appearance.
The visible part of the nail is dead and has no direct supply of blood, lymph and nerves. All nutrients are supplied to the nail through the dermis.

EIGHT REGIONS OF THE NAIL

The nail is made up of eight main regions. The cuticle is a fold of overlapping skin surrounding the base of the nail. The eponychium is the dead cuticle that adheres to the base of the nail, the peronychium is the cuticle that outlines the nail plate and hyponychium is the cuticle skin found under the free edge of the nail. The cuticle protects the matrix and provides a protective seal against bacteria.

THE NAIL MATRIX

The nail matrix is immediately below the cuticle and is the area where the living cells are produced. The matrix receives a rich supply of blood which supplies oxygen to the nail and is vital to the production of cells.

The nail bed is a continuation of the matrix and is found below the nail plate. It is the part of the skin upon which the nail plate rests. The nail bed is richly supplied with blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerves. The nail bed helps to provide nourishment and protection for the nail.

THE LUNULA AND THE NAIL PLATE

The lunula is the light coloured crescent that lies between the matrix and the nail plate. It is an area of the nail where the cells start to harden and so is a bridge between the living cells of the matrix and the dead cells of the nail plate.

The nail plate is the main visible section of the nail which rests on the nail bed and ends at the free edge. It is made up of layers of translucent, dead, keratinised cells to make the nail hard. The cells are closely packed together with fat. The nail plate offers protection for the nail bed.

THE NAIL WALLS, NAIL GROOVES & THE FREE EDGE

The nail walls are the folds of skin overlapping the sides of the nails. They surround three sides of the nail and protect the edges of the nail plate.

The nail grooves are deep ridges under the sides of the nail. As the nail grows along with the nail bed, it passes along the nail grooves which guide it and help it to grow straight.

The free edge is the section of the nail plate that extends beyond the nail bed. It is usually the hardest part and is the part of the nail that is filed.