T Nail Growth and Structure

A normal, healthy nail surface is ______ and smooth.

• shiny

• dull

• rough

• brittle

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

• nail bed

• matrix

• cuticle

• hyponychium

The lunula is the whitish, half moon shape underneath the base of the ______.

• nail

• finger

• toe

• cuticle

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

• free edge

• lunula

• cuticle

• eponychium

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

• ligament

• tendon

• muscle

• sinew

The side wall is the fold of skin overlapping the side of the ______.

• nail

• skin

• hair

• ear

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

• matrix

• cuticle

• nail bed

• plate

Ordinarily, replacement of natural fingernail takes about ______ to six months.

• four

• five

• three

• two

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

• thumb

• index finger

• middle finger

• ring finger

The nail has a water content between ______ and 25 percent.

• 15

• 10

• 20

• 5