Nail Structure and Growth

1. technical term for nails of the fingers or toes
4. tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds an organ in place
7. hard keratin plate on the top of and slowly sliding across the nail bed as it grows; the most visible and functional part of the nail unit
10. part of the nail plate that extends over the tip of the finger or toe
12. also known as the sidewall; folds of the skin that line the sides of the nail plate
13. slightly thickened layer of skin that lies between the fingertip and the free edge of the nail plate, forming a protective barrier that prevents microorganisms from invading and infecting the nail bed
15. collectively; the nail bed (or sterile matrix), nail fold, eponychium, paronychium, and hyponychium
16. folds of skin that surround the nail plate
17. nonliving colorless tissue attached to the nail plate

2. all parts of the finger from the tip to the first knuckle; technically referred to as the onyx and is composed mainly of keratin
3. thin layer of tissue between the nail plate and the nail bed
5. slit or furrow on the sides of the nail
6. abbreviated PNF; entire flap of skin covering the matrix, extending from the edge of the visible nail plate to the first joint of the finger or toe
8. area where the nail plate cells are formed; composed of matrix cells that produce the nail plate
9. portion of the living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows toward the free edge
11. living skin underneath the PNF found at the nail plate's base covering the matrix
14. visible parts of the matrix that extends from underneath the living skin; whitish half-moon shape at the base of the nail