Nails Definition Anatomy

These appendages are found in a layer of skin called the dermis which is a layer sandwiched between two other layers called the epidermis and hypodermis. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protective protein called alpha keratin which is found in the hooves hair claws and horns of vertebrates.

Fingernail Lunula Little Moon Meaning Health Color

Composed of hardened flat translucent non living keratin nail cells that form a solid protective layer over the underlying soft tissue.

Nails definition anatomy. The mammalian nail claw and hoof are all examples of unguis plural ungues. A nail is a horn like keratinous envelope covering the tips of the fingers and toes in most primates. The underpart of the nail is formed from the stratum germinativum of the epidermis the free surface from the stratum lucidum and the thin cuticular fold overlapping the lunula representing the stratum corneum.

A nail consists of corpus or body the visible part and radix or root at the proximal end concealed under a fold of skin. As new cells grow in the matrix the older cells are pushed out compacted and take on the familiar flattened hardened form of the fingernail. Lunula anatomy the lunula or lunulae pl from latin meaning little moon is the crescent shaped whitish area of the bed of a fingernail or toenail.

Nail is a hardened keratin plates cornified zone on the dorsal surface of the tips of fingers and toes acting as a rigid support for the digital pads of terminal phalanges. Hair skin glands including oil and sweat glands and nails are all considered skin appendages and they help with regulating body temperature and protection from the environment. N a thin horny translucent plate covering part of the dorsal.

The nails are composed largely of keratin a hardened protein that is also in skin and hair. Nails evolved from claws found in other animals. Nails are similar to claws which are found on numerous other animals.

The lunula is the visible part of the root of the nail. As the root grows the nail the nail streams down along the nail bed and adds material to the underside of the nail to make it thicker. It extends from the edge of the nail root or lunula to the hyponychium.

The nail plate should not be confused with the nail bed. Anatomy of nail nail. The thin horny transparent plate covering the upper surface of the end of a finger.

Nail anatomy synonyms nail anatomy pronunciation nail anatomy translation english dictionary definition of nail anatomy. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protein called keratin as are animals hooves and horns. The thickness of your nails is determined by the size of your matrix.

In humans it appears by week 14 of gestation and has a primary structural role in defining the free edge. The nail bed contains blood vessels nerves and melanocytes that produce melanin. The average person has 50 layers of keratin cells that make up the nail plate.

Structure Of Nail And Diseases