Nail anatomy project

Explore Millie Motts' 17536 photos on Flickr!

Troubleshoot common nail conditions by targeting the cause and customizing your care - both in the salon and with home care recommendations.

Types of Nails! Really useful chart!

Nail Lingo: Learn to speak fluent nail by knowing your anatomy. This illustration will help you know all the proper names and locations of the parts that make up a single nail tip.

Fingernails are keratinized and function in grooming, picking apart food, and other manipulations. The nail originates in the nail matrix where constant new growth is occurring through mitosis. The hyponychium marks the area below the nail while the eponcyhium is the cuticle resting above the nail. The lunula is a whitish half-moon-like shape with its base originating out of the nail matrix.

Illustration about Fingernail Anatomy. Structure of human nail. Science of human body. Anatomical training poster. Detailed medical vector illustration. Illustration of flat, fold, eponychium - 133484567

Following is a finger anatomy diagram illustrating the upper and innermost parts. As the left image shows, the topmost part of the fingernail is called the nail's free edge, and the end part is called Lunula.

Anatomy of the nail

Matrix

My quest continues as I search out all the newest facts about nail anatomy. I’m working with world-class medical experts and internationally known nail educators, in addition to constantly reviewing scientific reports/books. In this update, I’d like to share some new information in hopes of ending the confusion about the basic structure of the natural nail. This is the second in a series about the nail anatomy.

Have you ever wondered what your fingernails are made out of? What about the anatomy of your fingernails? All of the answers are here!