NAIL ANATOMY

Nails are horny plates located on the dorsal surface of the terminal phalanges of
the fingers and toes. The surface of the skin covered by them is called the nail bed.
The nail is surrounded laterally and proximally by a fold of skin, called the nail bed.
The fissure that exists between the labrum and the bed is called the nail groove.
The proximal edge of the nail plate is called the nail root. The visible part of the nail
plate, called the nail body, is surrounded by the nail bed. The distal portion, which is
free, extends forward and is gradually worn away or cut off.
The nail is semi-transparent and allows the color of the underlying tissue, rich in
blood vessels, to show through. Near the root, the nail has a whitish color. This
crescent-shaped portion, the Lunula, is usually covered by the proximal portion of
the nail fold.
The nail plate is made up of tightly packed scales, which are the dead residues of
cornified epithelial cells, distributed in such a way that in the cuts the nail appears
to be longitudinally striated. The nail bed has the structure of the skin, with all its
layers. When turning towards the nail groove, it loses its papillae, and the epidermis
loses its horny, lucid and granular layers. Below the nail fold, the stratum corneum
extends along the free surface of the nail plate in the form of a hyponychium (Fig.
A). The strata lucidum and granulosum reach well into the sulcus, but are not
continuous along the anterior surface of the nail. the nail plate.
On the surface of the nail bed, only the basal and spinous layers of the epidermis
are present.
In the nail bed, the dermis is attached directly to the periosteum of the phalanx. The
surface of the dermis below the proximal edge of the nail is provided with rather low
papillae, but below the distal half of the lunula, this surface becomes completely
smooth. The border between the epithelium and the dermis in the nail bed is
therefore wavy in the perpendicular section (Fig.B) while in the longitudinal sections
it appears smooth. Beyond the free edge of the nail, the dermal grooves are
replaced by cylindrical papillae.
The epithelium of the nail bed beyond the lunula retains the typical structure of the
basal layers of the epidermis. The epithelium is thicker between the ridges of the
dermis than above them. The upper layer of cells that is in contact with the nail
substance is separated from it in some places by a straight line while in others it is
irregular. Below the free edge of the nail the ordinary cornified layer begins again: it
is thickened in this place and is called hyponychium (Fig. B)
The epithelium that covers the proximal part of the nail bed, in the portion that
approximately corresponds to the lunula, is particularly thick in its distal part. Its
upper layer gradually becomes continuous with the substance of the nail plate. This
is where the formation of the nail substance takes place, consequently, this region
of the epithelium is called the nail matrix.(Fig.A) The cells of the deepest layer are
low cylindrical and many mitoses are observed between them. Above this layer
there are another six to ten layers of polyhedral cells, to which are added three to
twelve layers of more flattened cells. This entire mass is crossed by parallel fibrils
of a special oncogenic substance. As they continue along the proximal edge of the
nail plate, these cells become keratinized and homogeneous.
As the nail forms in the matrix, it moves forward. Most authors deny the
participation of the epithelium of the other portions of the nail bed in the formation of
the nail substance, since they think that the nail simply slides forward over this
region.
nail anatomy

The nail is a modification of the epidermis to form a hard, translucent, protective

body for the dorsal and distal part of the fingers and toes. Our nails, which are the
equivalent of the claws of other animals, are a particularly useful tool for lifting small
objects, scratching itchy areas, or scraping off somewhat hard scabs on surfaces.
In the same way as hair, nails contain keratin and these have three distinguishable
parts:
1 .- The free end: which extends freely at the tips of the fingers,
2 .- The body: the visible area attached to the finger.
3 .-The root: which is embedded in the skin.

In figure 1, where the structure of the nail is shown, it can be seen that the deepest
part of the epidermis extends under the nail to form the nail bed; The nail itself
corresponds to the keratinized superficial layers. The thickened proximal part of the
nail bed is the matrix, the area responsible for nail growth. As the matrix forms new
cells, they keratinize markedly, they die and the body of the nail grows distally,
sliding over the nail bed.
The nails are pinkish in color due to the richness of blood vessels in the underlying
dermis. However, the area that lies close to the circular arc-shaped matrix is whitish
in color and is known as lunula. The proximal edge and lateral edges of the nail
have overlapping folds of skin called ungual folds; and the proximal nail fold
extends over the body of the nail as a cuticle or eponychium.

free end

Body Matrix Proximal nail fold

\ Root
Eponychium (cuticle)
Ungual Lunula
fold - Nail bed / Body
lateral
HmA Extreme
Lunula - . free

Bone

basal layer
Nails are made up of the following parts

Matrix

The nail matrix is the living part and is located at the base of the nail. The matrix is
located directly below the eponychium, a small area of living tissue. It is the most
important part of the entire nail unit. This area is considered the “mother” and is
where the cells that make up the nail plate are produced. These cells are made of
special protein called keratin and are the building blocks of the nail plate. The
matrix produces healthy cells, as long as it receives nutrients from the arteries. It is
supplied by numerous blood vessels and nerves, which provide the nourishment
necessary for the production and growth of nail tissue.
Lunula

The lunula, or crescent, is the only visible part of the womb. It is not always seen,
although it is usually visible, decreasing in size to the little finger, where it is not
normally visible. The lunula is white because the cells are not completely crushed
and are still in the process of compression and the cells are still round, so in this
area the nail is white (the cells are white) and it is the part softer and thinner.
Litter

The nail bed is a continuation of the matrix. Acting as a support platform for the nail
plate, it plays a vital role in the health, color and texture of the nail. The plate is
attached to the nail bed by a series of grooves that extend from the matrix to just
short of the fingertips, where it separates to form a free edge.
The bed is an area of epidermal tissue that supports the plate. The nail bed is made
up of two types, the dermis and the epidermis.
Dermis

The dermis is the bottom layer of the skin and is attached to the bottom of the bone.
Therefore the dermis is blocked and does not move. It contains many blood vessels
that carry oxygen and nutrients and also removes waste and toxins.
Epidermis

The epidermis is firmly attached to the underside of the nail plate. Thus the
epidermis moves with the nail plate when it grows. This is a special type of tissue
called epithelium and it looks a lot like the inside of your mouth. The epithelium is a
sticky tissue that adheres tightly to the underside of the nail plate.
Plate

The nail plate is the part visible from the lunula to the free edge. It is composed of
compressed cells produced in the matrix, usually pale pink in color, it can be white
or bluish depending on temperature and other physical conditions. Although the
plate appears to be a single layer, in fact it has up to 100 dense sheets of flattened
cells. Once they are compressed, they create a super-strong structure.
The plate, known as the natural nail, is movable and solid, flowing from the matrix
toward the edge.

Cells at the back of the matrix (found under the skin) take longer to reach the distal
edge. The cells at the free edge are approximately 2 times larger than the cells
under the nail. It is the area that we paint and where the decorated nails are fixed.
Layers

The layers are separated by small amounts of moisture and fat. These layers vary
in consistency, with the outer layer being the hardest and the inner layer, which
adheres to the nail bed, being softer.
Cuticle

The cuticle is the dead tissue on the underside of the eponychium that adheres to
the plate to complete the matrix seal. The cuticle sits on the surface. It attaches to
the lower nail part of the eponychium and adheres to the plate. Together, they form
the seal to protect the matrix.
Once the cuticle reaches beyond the eponychium, it is no longer useful. During a
manicure, the eponychium is gently pushed back, exposing the cuticle, and this
must be carefully removed.
Hyponychium

The hyponychium is located below the free edge, on the distal edge of the nail. It is
made up of epidermis and forms an airtight seal that prevents bacteria, fungi,
viruses, etc. from entering. attack the nail bed. Breaking the hyponychium seal can
lead to infection of the nail and separation of the nail plate from the nail bed (this is
called onychoysis).
Eponychium

The eponychium is usually called the cuticle, but in fact it is not the true cuticle. The
eponychium moves when the plaque grows. Its function is to act as a barrier seal to
stop infection, preventing bacteria from reaching the womb. You should never cut
too much because it will grow thicker and harder, and almost turn into scar tissue.
Normally, the highest, most visible part of the eponychium has the appearance of
healthy skin.

The sides of the wall are part of the skin. This continuous skin acts as a protective
barrier to protect and seal the matrix from bacteria and dirt.