Nail Anatomy
Nail growth –
Nails are constantly growing, but their growth rate slows down due to poor circulation /ageing. Fingernails grow faster than toenails, at a rate of 3 millimetres per month. It takes six months for a fingernail to grow from the root to the free edge. Toenails grow much more slowly, at just 1 millimetre per month. It takes a toenail 12 to 18 months to grow from root to tip.
Cells are created in the matrix and pushed forward. They lose fluid and become flatter. The cells move to the lunula area (half moon) where they become keratinised (bonded together with protein). They then become hard and flat.
The lunula area can be quite soft and thus easily damaged. Massage of the cuticles with oil can stimulate growth. A longer matrix will produce a thicker nail and a shorter one a thinner nail.
Calcium only makes up a tiny percentage of the nail. White spots are usually trauma to the nail.
Factors which influence nail growth
Sun nails can sometimes grow quicker in sunlight
Pregnancy – nails very often grow faster in pregnancy then normalise afterwards
Age nails can grow slower as we age
Nail biting nails can sometimes grow quicker once biting has stopped
Illness/medication nails can grow slower when ill and on medication or through bad circulation
The fingernail is an appendage of the skin. It includes the nail plate and the tissues that surround it.
The nail structure is divided into different parts: nail folds, matrix, cuticle, root, nail bed, nail plate, eponychium, peroinychium , lunula, free edge and hyponychium.
Each of these six components has a specific function, and if a component of the nail structure is disrupted, the nail can look abnormal.
Nail Root –
The root of the nail is also known as the germinal matrix. Its edge appears as a white crescent, known as the lunula. The root portion of this nail lies below the skin. underneath the nail, and extends several millimetres into the finger. It produces most of the volume of the nail and the nail bed.
Nail folds (mantle) –
Protects where the nail plate is made, where the root is.
Matrix –
Where new nail plate cells are created, and the nail plate begins to form. The matrix is the inner part of the nail. It affects the nail’s shape, size, regeneration, and growth. The matrix contains the lymph, blood vessels, and nerves that help the nail grow. Keratin grows and hardens in the matrix. This process produces the nail body. A bacterial infection in which pus is produced in the matrix is called onychia.
Cuticle –
The cuticle is a thin semi-circular A thin layer of dead tissue riding on the nail plate to form a seal between the nail plate and eponychium to prevent pathogens from infecting the matrix area.
The cuticle pulls away from the underside of the eponychium and attaches to the nail plate.
The cuticle should NOT be confused with the “eponychium”.
The cuticle should be properly removed with gentle scraping only. piece of skin that overlaps that nail.
The eponychium will shed a thin, colourless layer of skin that rides on the nail plate and grows from under the proximal nail fold. It is this transparent skin, which is called the ‘cuticle’, and it is THIS that must be removed during the prep process.
Eponychium –
Living skin at the base of the nail plate that covers the matrix area. This should NOT be confused with the “cuticle”. The eponychium is the inside point where the nail enters the skin. This is the underside part of the proximal nail fold that covers the new growth of nail plate. It extends from the matrix to the front edge of the PNF. The visible part of the proximal nail fold that appears at the base of the nail and provides a waterproof barrier.
Proximal Fold of the Eponychium –
The proximal fold is a required guardian seal that prevents germs and bacteria from getting to the nail matrix, where new cells are created.
A tight band of living tissue that most people incorrectly think is their “cuticle”.
Proximal nail fold (PNF): Is the soft tissue that protects the emerging nail plate that creates a protective shield that can resist attack by infectious organisms or potentially harmful chemicals.
This keratinised fold is living tissue and soft to the touch when healthy.
Over keratinisation is a response to trauma, like continuous removal.
If the skin is tough, it can then be tempting to cut but then causes more trauma and more thickening.
Oil will enable this tissue to relax and in around 40 days it should be able to recover/regenerate.
Hyponychium –
A soft tissue seal underneath the extended “free” edge of the nail plate whose purpose is to prevent pathogens from infecting the nail bed. The hyponychium is the skin located directly beneath the nail’s free edge. The hyponychium is the area between the free edge of the nail plate and the skin of the fingertip. It also provides a waterproof barrier.
Peroinychium –
The peroinychium is the skin that surrounds the entire nail. The paronychium is the skin that overlaps onto the sides of the nail plate, also known as the paronychial edge. The paronychium is the site of hangnails, ingrown nails, and paronychia, a skin infection.
Nail Plate –
The nail plate (nail body) is the visible (almost clear) hard keratin portion on the top of the finger. The tissue directly under the nail plate is called the nail bed. A healthy nail looks pink because the blood that flows to the nail bed can be seen through the nail plate. Composed of hardened, flat, translucent, non-living, keratin nail cells that form a solid, protective layer over the underlying soft tissue.
The nail plate should NOT be confused with the nail “bed”
The nail plate is the actual fingernail, and it’s made of translucent keratin. Several layers of dead, compacted cells cause the nail to be strong but flexible. The pinkish appearance of the nail comes from the blood vessels that are underneath it. The underside of the nail plate has grooves that run along the length of the nail and help anchor it to the nail bed.
The average person has 50 layers of keratin cells that make up the nail plate. The thickness of your nails is determined by the size of your matrix.
Not everyone’s matrix is the same size. People with thin nails have a small matrix and will have less than 50 layers. People with thick nails have a large matrix and have more than 50 layers.
Free Edge –
The free edge of the nail is that part that extends beyond the end of the fingertip and can be seen from both above and below the hand.
Lunula –
A bluish-white, opaque area that is visible through the nail plate. Sometimes, it’s called the “moon.” (half moon) consists of white plump cells. They lose colour on the nail plate. It is the light arc at the base of the nail. It has a half-moon shape. This light colour results from an air pocket between the nail plate and the nail bed at the base of the nail.
Nail Bed –
The nail extends from the edge of the nail root, or lunula, to the hyponychium. The nail bed contains blood vessels, nerves, and melanocytes that produce melanin. The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate. Like all skin, it is made of two types of tissues: the deeper dermis, the living tissue and the epidermis, the layer just beneath the nail plate, which moves toward the finger tip with the plate. The epidermis is attached to the dermis by tiny longitudinal “grooves” In old age, the nail plate becomes thinner, and these grooves become more visible.
The soft, pink tissue that sits underneath and supports the nail plate while it grows. The nail bed should NOT be confused with the nail “plate”. Dermis and epidermis. Lies under the nail plate. The dermis is the lower layer and attached to the bone. Epidermis is the upper layer and moves by its ridges running into the channels of the dermis. This is how it grows.
Nail Grooves –
The nail groove is the channel (slit) on each side of the nail plate. This is where the nail moves when it grows.
Side Wall -
The sidewall is the skin on either side of the nail plate, also known as the lateral nail fold, acts as a barrier against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.