Nails

Hard plates of keratin covering the tips of the fingers and toes.

Structure

• Nail plate — the visible hard part.
• Nail bed — the skin beneath it.
• Nail matrix — the growth zone at the base, hidden under the skin; the pale crescent (lunula) is its visible edge.

What it does

• Protects the fingertips and toes.
• Enhances fine touch and the ability to grip and pick up small objects.
• Serves as a tool — for scratching and prising.

Key idea

Nails grow continuously from the matrix throughout life, and their condition can mirror nutrition and general health.