Nail Structure

2. The hardened keratin structure that forms the nail plate (a term sometimes used in anatomy to describe the nail as a horn‑like structure).
4. The living skin at the base of the nail that covers the matrix; often confused with the cuticle.
5. The area at the base of the nail where new nail cells are produced; responsible for nail growth.
6. The part of the nail located under the skin at the base; where the nail begins forming.
7. The thin layer of dead skin that overlaps the nail plate and protects the area between the skin and the nail from infection.
8. The network of tiny blood vessels under the nail bed that gives nails their pinkish colour and helps them grow.
9. The skin underneath the nail plate that provides support and nutrients.

1. The skin under the free edge of the nail that acts as a protective barrier against bacteria and debris.
2. The hard, visible part of the nail made of keratin; what we commonly call the “nail.”
3. The pale, half‑moon‑shaped area at the base of the nail plate; part of the visible matrix.
6. The slits or tracks on the sides of the nail that guide the nail plate as it grows forward.