Nail Structure and Growth

A normal, healthy nail surface ______________.

• is completely inflexible

• has a spotted surface

• is shiny and smooth

• is white and opaque

The portion of the living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows toward the free edge is called the ______________.

• nail bed

• cuticle

• matrix

• ligament

The ____________ is the whitish, half-moon shape underneath the base of the nail.

• sidewall

• lunula

• root

• free edge

The part of the nail plate that extends over the tip of the finger or toe is the ____________.

• free edge

• matrix

• bed epithelium

• sidewall

A __________ is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds an organ in place.

• muscle

• ligament

• tendon

• nerve

The ___________ is the fold of skin overlapping the side of the nail.

• eponychium

• hyponychium

• nail groove

• sidewall

As long as the ___________ is nourished and healthy, new nail plate cells will be created.

• lateral nail fold

• lunula

• matrix

• nail plate

Ordinarily, replacement of a natural fingernail takes about _____________.

• 6-12 months

• 4-6 months

• 6-8 months

• 2-8 months

The nail growth rate on the ____________ is typically the slowest.

• thumb

• middle finger

• pinkie finger

• index finger

The nail has a water content between _________.

• 10 & 15 percent

• 1 & 5 percent

• 20 & 45 percent

• 15 & 25 percent