Fingernail Diagram

A fingernail seems a lot like a horn like envelop that covers the terminal side of the phalanges both of fingers and toes. They look like the other primates nails and as well have the same protective role as claws, which can be found in many other animals.

If you stay and look closely at a fingernail diagram, one will see that the phalanges make up the bone structures of your fingers and thumb. While the thumb has just two phalanges, the fingernails consist of three. A fingernails diagram will as well show us the parts tech-nail is composed from. Therefore, there is the proximal nail fold, the true cuticle, the eponychium, the lunula, the lateral nail folds, the actual nail which is called nail plate, the distal edge and the side walls.

The eponychium is that part of the nail that is usually referred to as the cuticle but it is not the true cuticle. It is found very closely to the nail plate and moves as the nail plate grows. It is the one that is either cut or pushed back. It has the function of stopping any infection from getting to the matrix. The proximal nail fold and the lateral nail folds, are part of the skin, they actually protect against bacteria and dirt. The true cuticle is made from dead skin cells that are attached to the nail plate and that become visible as the nail grows. In order to prevent too much dead skin, these should be removed regularly. The lunula or the white moon is the front end of the matrix. They represent keratin cells that have not been completely flattened and still have some of their content.

One should be aware that the nail grows at a rate of approximately 3 mm per month. This growth also depends on various factors, such as age, gender, weather, health, balanced diet etc. normally, an entire nail takes up to six months to fully grow. While the nails grow faster when you are a child, it grows more slowly as you grow old.<

Nails do not always look the same, they can contract some infection, suffer an injury, have some secondary results from the diet we have, etc. Therefore, there are times, when one will find oneself with some fingernail conditions that make the fingernail look bad. Unfortunately, these are very common things and one should take care of the fingernails and go and check the changes with a dermatologist.

In order to maintain the health of your fingernails one should keep the nails clean and dry, avoid picking, apply moisturizer to the nails and on the cuticles, file the nails just in one direction, do not cut your cuticles too deep, eat a balanced diet and take vitamins that contain biotin, etc.