- Nail consists of a nail plate, the nail matrix, and the nail bed below it.
- Nail matrix is the active tissue that generate cells.
- The cells harden as they move outward from the nail root to the nail plate.
- As new nail plate cells are made, they push older plate cells forward
- The lunula (“small moon”) is the visible part of the matrix.
- The nail bed is beneath the nail plate
- The nail root is located just under the skin at the proximal nail fold.
- The nail plate is from the nail root to the free edge, and is made of dead, compacted cells which are keratin dense.
