Nail Physiology

The nail is composed of this hard fiber-like protein

• Collagen 
• Keratin 
• Elastic  
• Matrix 

The nail plate/body is formed by the:

• Nail bed
• Follicle 
• Matrix cells 
• Cuticle 

How many layers of cells create the nail plate? 

• 25
• 5
• 300
• 100

The nail is more porous (able to absorb more material) than our skin. 

• True 
• False

Located under the nail plate, is the portion of living skin that supports the nail. 

• Free edge 
• Eponychium 
• Ligament
• Nail bed

The nail is attached to the nail bed by this structure:
 

• Bed epithelium 
• Apical surface 
• Sebum 
• Bed eponychium 

The dead, tough, colorless tissue attached to the nail plate is called the:

• Ligament 
• Hyponychium 
• Cuticle 
• Lunula 

The lighter color of the ________ shows the shape and true color of the matrix. 

• Nail fold
• Lunula 
• Nail groove
• Nail mantle 

The living skin (also a cuticle) that is found at the base of the nail plate. 

• Ligament
• Hyponychium 
• Matrix 
• Eponychium 

The nail bed and the matrix bed are attached to the underlying bone by ______________

• Ligaments
• Muscle 
• Side walls 
• Nail grooves