Nails

What are the Nails?
The nails are protective plates that cover the ends of the fingers and toes. They are made of mainly keratin, the protein present in hair and skin.

How can we describe nails?
The most obvious part of the nail is the nail plate. This structure lies on the nail bed, which is rich in blood vessels. Nails grow from the matrix, which lies below the fold of skin called as the cuticle. Part of it also grows from the lunula, a crescent shaped area at the base of the nail.

Nails grow at the rate of about 4mm to 6 mm every month and can pose a health hazard if left unclean or untrimmed.

Function of Nails
Nails provide protection to the nail bed and the end of the digit, which are exposed to external hazards of the environment.