Nail Structure & Growth

A normal, healthy nail surface (a)   .

• 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 (a)   .

• nail bed

• cuticle

• matrix

• ligament

The (a)   is the whitish, half-moon shape underneath the base of the nail.

• Lunula

• Cuticle

• Nail Bed

• Nail Plate

The part of the nail plate that extends over the tip of the finger or toe is the (a)   .

• free edge

• matrix

• bed epithelium

• sidewall

The (a)   is the fold of skin overlapping the side of the nail.

• sidewall
• eponychium
• hyponychium
• nail groove

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

• muscle

• ligament
• tendon

• nerve

As long as the (a)   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 (a)   .

• six to twelve months

• four to six months

• six to eight months

• two to eight months

The nail has a water content between (a)   .

• 15 and 25 percent
• 1 and 5 percent

• 20 and 45 percent

• 10 and 15 percent

The nail growth rate on the (a)   is typically the slowest.

• thumb

• middle finger

• pinkie finger

• index finger