Library · Anatomy
Nail
Make it clearer
When we say “nail,” we usually mean only the rigid plate we can see. The structure also includes the matrix, which gives rise to the plate, and the nail bed beneath it.
Picture a firm plate that grows from its point of origin and rests on a base. The plate is the visible part; the matrix and nail bed are distinct structures within the same unit.
In brief
The nail includes a rigid nail plate, a matrix that gives rise to the plate, and a nail bed beneath it.
Picture a rigid plate that originates in a matrix and rests on a bed.
The nail plate is the hard, visible part of the nail and consists of tightly packed keratinized cells.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationHistology, Nail
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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