The free margin ( margo liber) or distal edge is the anterior margin of the nail plate corresponds to the abrasive or cutting edge of the nail. [3] Onychogryposis affected nail can also have many ridges and grooves, appear brownish, and grow rapidly on one side when compared to the other side. Paronychia is a bacterial nail infection that is caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The infection usually involves nail fold and the nail plate and occurs along the edges of the toenail or fingernail, prevalent more commonly as a hand infection. Based on the appearance and location of the infection, it can be easily distinguished from other infections like herpetic whitlow and onychomycosis if neglected for a long time and can lead to severe infections affecting the entire toe or finger. The lunula ("small moon") is the visible part of the matrix, the whitish crescent-shaped base of the visible nail. The lunula can best be seen in the thumb and may not be visible in the little finger. The lunula appears white due to a reflection of light at the point where the nail matrix and nail bed meet.

Vreeman, R. C; Carroll, A. E (2007). "Medical myths". BMJ. 335 (7633): 1288–9. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39420.420370.25. PMC 2151163. PMID 18156231. a b Ankel-Simons, Friderun (8 January 2007). Primate Anatomy: An introduction (3rded.). London, UK: Academic Press. pp.342–344. ISBN 978-0-12-372576-9. The nail plate is created in the nail matrix, where skin cells are modified and keratinised to become the hard, flat cells of the nail plate. It is the most visible part of the whole nail unit, covering the area from the nail matrix to the free edge and beyond. While it may appear to be one piece, it is constructed from multiple layers of nail cells. As it grows it moves across the nail bed, held in place to the dermis beneath by nail bed epithelium, and kept within the lateral nail folds by the nail grooves along each of the sidewalls. The nail consists of the nail plate, the nail matrix and the nail bed below it, and the grooves surrounding it. [2] Parts of the nail [ edit ] This suggests that whereas claws are useful on large-diameter branches, wide fingertips with nails and epidermal ridges were required for habitual locomotion on small-diameter branches. It also indicates keel-shaped nails of Callitrichines (a family of New World monkeys) is a derived postural adaptation rather than retained ancestral condition. [38] See also [ edit ]Nail tools used by different people may transmit infections. Standard hygiene and sanitation procedures avoid transmission. In some cases, gel and cream cuticle removers can be used instead of cuticle scissors. Cashman MW, Sloan SB (2010). "Nutrition and nail disease". Clinics in Dermatology. 28 (4): 420–25. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.037. PMID 20620759. Bluish or purple fingernail beds may be a symptom of peripheral cyanosis, which indicates oxygen deprivation.

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sourcesin this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2012) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) The current record-holder for men, according to Guinness, is Shridhar Chillal from India who set the record in 1998 with a total of 20feet 2.25inches (615.32cm) of nails on his left hand. His longest nail, on his thumb, was 4feet 9.6inches (146.3cm) long. Practising good personal hygiene and taking proper care of hands and feet can help lower the risk of most problems affecting nail plates. Nail Plate Pictures

Nail Plate Pictures

The best way to care for nails is to trim them regularly. Filing is also recommended, as to keep nails from becoming too rough and to remove any small bumps or ridges that may cause the nail to get tangled up in materials such as cloth. [21] The nail wall ( vallum unguis) is the cutaneous fold overlapping the sides and proximal end of the nail. The lateral margin ( margo lateralis) lies beneath the nail wall on the sides of the nail, and the nail groove or fold ( sulcus matricis unguis) are the cutaneous slits into which the lateral margins are embedded. [3] Paronychium [ edit ] Sommer NZ, Brown RE. The perionychium. Green DP, Hotchkiss RN, Pederson WC, Wolfe SW, eds. Green's Operative Hand Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005. vol 1: 389-416.

The nail plate ( corpus unguis) [3] sometimes referred to as the nail body, is the visible hard nail area from the nail root to the free edge, made of translucent keratin protein. Several layers of dead, compacted cells cause the nail to be strong but flexible. Its (transverse) shape is determined by the form of the underlying bone. [ citation needed] In common usage, the word nail often refers to this part only. The nail plate is strongly attached to the nail bed and does not contain any nerves or blood vessels. A study of the fingertip morphology of four small-bodied New World monkey species indicated a correlation between increasing small-branch foraging and: The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate. It is the area of the nail on which the nail plate rests. Nerves and blood vessels found here supply nourishment to the entire nail unit. Like all skin, it is made of two types of tissues: the dermis and the epidermis. The epidermis is attached to the dermis by tiny longitudinal "grooves" called matrix crests ( cristae matricis unguis). [3] In old age, the nail plate becomes thinner, and these grooves become more visible. [ citation needed] The nail bed is highly innervated, and removal of the nail plate is often excruciatingly painful as a result. [ citation needed]

It is the firm, translucent section of the nail that appears pinkish in colour. This pink appearance is due to the presence of blood vessels beneath the nail. The underlying surface of the nail plate comprises grooves along the entire length of the nail. It is these grooves which help the plate anchor itself to the nail bed. The transversal shape of the plate is determined by the shape of the underlying bone. Nail Plate Function Insufficient vitamin B12 can lead to excessive dryness, darkened nails, and rounded or curved nail ends. Insufficient intake of both vitamin A and B results in fragile nails with horizontal and vertical ridges. Some over-the-counter vitamin supplements such as certain multivitamins and biotin may help in growth of strong nails, although this is quite subjective. Both vitamin B12 and folate play a role in red blood cell production and oxygen transportation to nail cells. Inadequacies can result in discoloration of the nails. [25] In humans, fingernails grow at an average rate of approx. 3.5mm (0.14in) a month, whereas toenails grow about half as fast (approx. average 1.6mm (0.063in) a month). [11] Fingernails require three to six months to regrow completely, and toenails require twelve to eighteen months. Actual growth rate is dependent upon age, sex, season, exercise level, diet, and hereditary factors. [12] A nail-biting encounter with the woman who has the longest fingernails". Guinness World Records. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2020-11-07.

Jordan, Christopher; Mirzabeigi, Edwin (2000-04-01). Atlas of orthopaedic surgical exposures. Thieme. p.101. ISBN 0-86577-776-4.In mammals, the growth rate of nails is related to the length of the terminal phalanges (outermost finger bones). Thus, in humans, the nail of the index finger grows faster than that of the little finger; and fingernails grow up to four times faster than toenails. [10] The nail then acts as a counter-force when the end of the finger touches an object, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the fingertip, [9] although the nail itself has no nerve endings.