nailstructure-201202132438 (1).pptx

2. • An appendage of the skin
•A horny, translucent plate that protects the tips of the
fingers and toes.
• Composed mainly of keratin. ( protein substance that
forms the base of all horny tissue)
• Whitist and transluscent in appearance and
allows the pinkish colour of the nail bed to be seen.

3. •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

4. • 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.

5. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
1. FREE EDGE -the part of the nail that can be filed and shaped. It is an
extension of the nail plate that overlaps the hyponychium.

6. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
2. HYPONICHIUM - Portion where the nail separates from the
skin.

7. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
3. NAIL GROOVES - Skin at the side of the
free edge, the nail follows the line as it grows.

8. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
4. NAIL PLATE - Visible portion of the
nail.

9. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
5. NAIL WALLS - The folds of skin where the nail is
attached

10. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
6. NAIL BED - Part of the finger underneath the nail
plate.

11. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
7. LUNULA -Moon shaped point where the matrix and nail bed
meet.

12. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
8. CUTICLE - The overlapping skin surrounding the nail

13. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
9. MATRIX - This is where the nail is
made.

14. DIAGRAM OF THE NAIL
MANTLE - deep fold of the skin in which
the nail root is embedded.

16. • The nail consists of three parts: nail body, nail
root and free edge.
• The structures beneath the nail include the
nail bed, matrix and lunula.
• The structures surrounding the nail include
the cuticle, eponychium, hyponychium,
perionychium, nail walls and nail grooves

17. • There are factors thatcan influence the
growth of nails such as:
✔nutrition
✔general health and
✔disease.

18. • 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.