Chapter 9- Nail Structure and Growth

What are some things that characterize a cuticle?

1.) It is tissue attached directly to the nail plate and can be removed with gentle scraping 2.) Tissue is thin and colorless 3.) Tissue is non living and is not directly connected to the skin

What are some things that characterize a eponychium?

1.) Tissue that is part of the skin hat grows up to the natural nail 2.) Tissue covers the matrix and lunula 3.) If you cut it, it will bleed

Describe a natural nail.

1.)A natural nail is firm but flexible. 2.) The surface is shiny, smooth, and unspotted with no wavy ridges, pits or splits. 3.)It is whitish and translucent in appearance with a pinkish color on the nail bed

An average nail in a normal adults grows about how much per month?

1/10 inch to 1/8 of an inch

Replacement of a natural fingernail takes about

4-6 months

How long does it take toenails to be fully replaced?

9- 12 months

What is the difference between a nail plate and a nail bed?

A nail plate is made up of dead cells so it does not require oxygen but a nail bed is made up of live cells and does require oxygen,vitamins and minerals.

What things affect nail growth?

Age, pregnancy, seasons, nail position on the body

Why are toe nails thicker and harder than fingernails?

Because the matrix is longer

The nail bed is attached to what layer of tissue?

Bed epithelium

What gives the nail bed its pinkish color?

Blood vessels extending from the lunula to the are just before the free edge of the nail.

What a grows faster a child's nail or an elderly person's nail?

Childs

What is the proper name for the product that effectively removes dead cuticle?

Cuticle removers since they quickly dissolve tissue

What is the cuticle?

Dead colorless tissue attached to the natural nail plate

Is the cuticle dead or alive?

Dead skin

Nail formation can be caused by what?

Disease, injury or infection and these things can change the shape or thickness of a nail

Which finger is nail growth the fastest on? The slowest?

Fastest: middle finger Slowest: Thumb

What is the water content of a nail?

From 15-25 percent

What is a natural nail? And what is another name for a natural nail?

Hard protective plate located at the edge of the finger or toe An ONYX

What is the nail plate?

Hardened keratin plate that sits and covers the nail bed, and slowly slides across the nail bed. Most visible and functional part of the nail unit. It is relatively porous and allows water to pass through it much more easily than normal skin.

How is a nail affected by humidity?

In a humid environment nails contain more water

When does nail growth increase rapidly during pregnancy? When does it decrease?

In the last trimester it grows rapidly and decreases quickly after delivery returning then it returns to normal

What is the hyponichium?

It is the slightly thickened layer of skin that lies between the fingertip and free edge of the nail plate.

Describe the lunula

It is the whitish, half-moon shape underneath the base of the nail. the white color is caused by the reflection of the light of the surface of the visible part of the underlying matrix. All nails have a lunula but some may be shorter in one person than the other.

What is a natural nail mostly composed of ?

Keratin, which is harder on the nails than on the hair

What is the eponychium?

Living skin at the base of the nail plate covering the matrix

What is the visible part of the matrix that extends form underneath the living skin called?

Lunula

What is the nail plate formed of?

Matrix cells, and about 100 layers on nail cells

What do nail folds form?

Nail grooves on each side of the nail and the sidewall which is the fold of sin overlapping the side of the nail

What is the natural nail unit composed of?

Nail plate, nail bed, matrix, cuticle, eponychium, perionychium, hyponychium, specialized ligaments and nail folds.

What are "nail ridges"?

Nail ridges are to be considered normal as a part of aging and occurs when the matrix slows down the production of new cells, causing the plate to become thinner and develop nail grooves

When do nails grow faster? When do they grow slower?

Nails grow faster in the summer and slower in the winter

Should one file "nail ridges"?

No it only thins and weakens the entire nail plate.

Can a product or procedure make a nail plate grow thicker?

No it would require to have a thicker nail plate

Are fingernails constantly being shed?

No the only things that can cause a nail to shed is injury, infection or a disease

What can help a nails flexibility, reduce water loss, or prevent excessive absorption?

Oil based nail conditioner or nail polish

What can affect the growth or appearance of a nail?

Poor health, nail disease, or injury to the matrix

What is the nail bed?

Portion of the living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows towards the free edge.

What is the job of the cuticle?

Seal the space between the natural nail and the living skin (eponychium) to prevent the entry of foreign material and to avoid injury or infection

What are the function of specialized ligaments in the nail?

Specialize ligaments attach the nail bed and nail matrix to the underlying bone. They are located at the base of the matrix and around the edge of the nail bed.

What is the matrix on a nail?

The areas where the nail plate cells are form. Made up of matrix ells that produce the nail plate cells.

Where does the cuticle come from?

The cuticle comes from the underside of the skin that lies above the natural nail plate. It sticks to the nail plate.

What us the difference between the eponychium and the cuticle?

The cuticle is dead tissue adhered to the nail plate and the eponychium is living tissue that grows up to the nail plate.

What is the perionychium?

The living skin bordering the root and sides of the finger nail or toe nail.

How does water affect nail flexibility?

The lower the water content the more rigid the nail becomes, and

Where can the matrix be found?

The matrix extends from under the nail fold at the base of the nail plate.

What is the free edge of the nail?

The part of the nail plate that extends over the tip of the finger or toe

The length, width and curvature or a matrix determines what?

The thickness, width, and curvature of the natural nail plate. example: longer matrix: thicker nail plate Highly curved matrix: highly curved free edge

What are cuticle softeners and moisturizers actually for?

They are actually for the eponychium, lateral side walls, and hyponychium

What are cosmetologist allowed to do to the eponychium?

They are allowed to push it back but not cut it.

What is the purpose of the hyponichium?

To form a barrier that prevents microorganisms from invading and infecting the nail bed.

What is the purpose of the bed epithelium?

To help guide the nail plate along the nail bed as it grows

What grows faster toe nails or finger nails?

Toe nails

What things can stimulate a nails growth?

Typing on a keyboard or lightly touching natural nails on piano keys

What is nail malformation?

When the nail is abnormal in shape or form

What are nail folds?

folds of normal skin that surround the nail plate.

A normal nail grows..?

forward from the matrix and extends over the tip of the finger

What does the matrix contain?

nerves, lymph, and blood vessels

Does the nail bed have sudoriferous glands?

no the nail bed cannot perspire only the skin around it

What determines the shape of a nail?

the matrix

What is the sole job of the matrix cells?

to create nail plate cells