LESSONS

1. Nail structure
2. Nail diseases and disorders
 Lesson 1
NAIL STRUCTURE AND
CONDITIONS
 What is nail?

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.
 What are the
characteristics of
healthy nails?
THREE PARTS OF
NAIL
Nail Body or Nail Plate
Free Edge
 tip part of the fingernail or
toenail
Part of the nail that can be
filled and shaped
Nail Root
is also known as the
germinal matrix, its
edge appears as a
white crescent, known
as the lunula.
The whitish half-moon
at the base of the nail
STRUCTURES BENEATH THE
NAIL:
Nail Bed Matrix Lunula
-is the skin under - part of the nail bed -half-moon shape
the nail plate which contains nerves found at the base of
and blood vessels and the nail where the
is located beneath the matrix connects with
nail root. the nail bed
 STRUCTURES
SURROUNDING THE NAIL:
 Cuticle

 the overlapping skin around

the nail
 can be removed during the
manicuring process
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
Mantle

– deep fold of the skin in which the

nail root is embedded.
Nail Growth
1. Portion of the skin
under the free edge of
the nail.
Hyponychium
2. The skin upon
which the nail body or
nail plate rests
Nail Bed
3. Beginning of nail
found at the base and
is embedded
underneath the skin.
Mantle
4. Folds of the skin
overlapping the sides
of the nail
Nail Walls
5. Technical term for
the nail
Onyx