Nail Structure and Growth Vocabulary

1234567891011121314151617
Across
  1. 1. technical term for nails of the fingers or toes
  2. 5. slit or furrow on the sides of the nail
  3. 7. nonliving colorless tissue attached to the nail plate
  4. 9. collectively; the nail bed (or sterile matrix), nail fold, eponychium, paronychium, and hyponychium
  5. 10. visible part of the matrix that extends from underneath the living skin; whitish half-moon shape at the base of the nail
  6. 13. part of the nail plate that extends over the tip of the finger or toe
  7. 14. folds of skin that surround the nail plate
  8. 15. hard keratin plate on top of and slowly sliding across the nail bed as it grows; the most visible and functional part of the nail unit
  9. 16. slightly thickened layer of skin that lies between the fingertip and free edge of the nail plate, forming a protective barrier that prevents microorganisms from invading and infecting the nail bed
  10. 17. 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
Down
  1. 2. portion of living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows toward the free edge
  2. 3. also known as the sidewall; folds of skin that line the sides of the nail plate
  3. 4. living skin underneath the PNF found at the nail plate’s base covering the matrix area
  4. 6. all parts of the finger from the tip to the first knuckle; technically referred to as the onyx and is composed mainly of keratin
  5. 8. tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds an organ in place
  6. 11. area where the nail plate cells are formed; composed of matrix cells that produce the nail plate
  7. 12. thin layer of tissue between the nail plate and the nail bed