ST. CLARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SCHOOL INC.

Brgy. Leviste, Laurel, Batangas

Module in Technology and Livelihood Education 7 (Nail Care)

Module No. 1
Topic: Apply Hand Treatment

NAIL STRUCTURE
It is very essential for a manicurist to have knowledge on the different parts of the nails for this will be
your basis in giving nail care services to your clients.
The nail is an appendage of the skin. Nail is a horny, translucent plate that protects the tips of the fingers
and toes. It is composed mainly of keratin, a protein substance that forms the base of all horny tissue. The nail is
whitist and transluscent in appearance and allows the pinkish colour of the nail bed to be seen. The horny plate
contains no nerves or blood vessels
Onyx is the technical term for the nail. The condition of the nail, like that of the skin, reflects the general health of the
body. Onychology is the study of nail. The nails vary in thickness, being heaviest on the thumbs and big toes.
The characteristics of healthy nails are firm and flexible, slightly pink in color and the surface is smooth,
curved and unspotted, without any hollows or wavy ridges.
Diagram Of The Nail And Its Structure.

The nail consists of three parts: nail body, nail root and free edge
 Nail Body or Nail Plate - visible portion of the nail that is attached to the nail bed.
 Free edge - end portion of the nail plate which extends beyond the fingertip. It is shaped during manicure.
 Nail root - beginning of nail found at the base and is embedded underneath the skin.
Structures Beneath the Nail
The structures beneath the nail include the nail bed, matrix and lunula.
 Nail Bed – the skin upon which the nail body or nail plate rests. It is supplied with many blood vessels and nerves.
The blood ve ssels supply nourishment for the nail.
 Matrix – part of the nail bed which contains nerves and blood vessels and is located beneath the nail root. It
produces cells that generate and harden the nail and will continue to grow as long as it receives nutrition and remains
in a healthy condition.
 Lunula – halfmoon shape found at the base of the nail where the matrix connects with the nail bed.
Structures Surrounding the Nail
The structures surrounding the nail include the cuticle, eponychium, hyponychium, perionychium, nail walls and
nail grooves
 Cuticle - the overlapping skin around the nail. A normal cuticle should be loose and pliable.
 Eponychium - cuticle extension at the base of the nail body which partly overlaps the lunula
 Hyponychium – portion of the skin under the free edge of the nail.
 Nail Walls – folds of the skin overlapping the sides of the nail
 Nail Grooves - are slits or tracks in the skin at the side of the nail upon which the nail moves as it grows.
 Mantle – deep fold of the skin in which the nail root is embedded.

Nail Growth
There are factors that can influence the growth of nails such as nutrition, general health and disease. A nail
grows forward, starting at the matrix and extending over the tip of the finger. Like hair, nails grow faster in warm
weather. Adult’s nail growth is about 1/8 inch per month whereas the nails of the children grow faster than those of
the elderly. Toenails grow slowly but they are thicker and harder than fingernails.
 ST. CLARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SCHOOL INC.
Brgy. Leviste, Laurel, Batangas

Name:____________________________________ Score:__________________
Grade & Section:_________________________

THINGS TO DO
Lesson 1

Labeling
Directions: Label the top view parts of the nail.

Identification
Directions: Identify the word/term being described in the statement. Write the answer in your
quiz notebook.
_________________1. Portion of the skin under the free edge of the nail.
_________________2. The skin upon which the nail body or nail plate rests
_________________3. Beginning of nail found at the base and is embedded underneath the skin.
_________________4. Folds of the skin overlapping the sides of the nail
_________________5. Technical term for the nail