What are the different parts of a nail?

A nail is composed of several distinct parts. The main part of a nail is the nail plate, which is the visible portion that extends beyond the end of the finger or toe. The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate, and it provides nourishment and support for the nail. The cuticle is a thin layer of skin that covers the base of the nail plate and protects it from bacteria and infection. The lunula, often called the "half-moon," is the whitish, crescent-shaped area at the base of the nail plate, and it represents the visible part of the nail matrix, the area where new nail cells are generated. Additionally, nails have a free edge, which is the part of the nail that grows past the fingertip, and the nail root, which is the portion of the nail that lies beneath the skin and is not visible.

This mind map was published on 27 October 2023 and has been viewed 100 times.