Stucture of Nail

Structures of Nail

• 1. Lunula - the pearly coloured and crescent

shaped is due to the cells being pushed closely
together, the blood capillaries cannot be seen
through the lunula because of this.

• 2. Cuticle - the overlapping epidermis around

the nail. It is the transparent skin, which is
called the 'true cuticle', that is removed during
the manicuring process.

• 3. Free edge -the part of the nail that can be

filed and shaped. It is an extension of the nail
plate that overlaps the hyponychium.

• 4. Matrix - the only living reproducing part of

the nail. This is situated directly below the
cuticle. New cells form here and continually
push towards to produce the nail plate. It also
contains blood vessels and nerves.

Structures of Nail

• 5. Nail bed - the part of the nail where the nail

plate rests on, also a continuation of the matrix.
It is abundantly supplied with blood vessels
and nerves, having numerous parallel ridges
which dovetail exactly with the ridges on the
under surface of the nail plate.

• 6. Nail walls - the folds of skin that overlap the

sides of the nail. They hold your nail in place
and protect the nail plate edges.

• 7. Nail Plate/Body of nail - is visible nail that

rests on the nail bed up to the free edge. This
is made up from dead cells and minimum
amount of moisture. The nail is semi-
transparent – allowing the color of blood
supply of the dermis to show.

• 8. Nail fold - is the tissue that encloses the nail

matrix at the root of the nail. It attaches the nail
to the rest of the skin through the protective
cuticle.