NAILS

Location: dorsal aspect of the distal phalanges

Composition:

• nail bed - the epithelial cells that are continuous with the stratum basale and stratum spinosum of the epidermis and underlying dermis
• nail plate - keratinocytes with hard keratin
• nail matrix - germinative zone which is covered by the proximal part of the nail plate - nail root
• eponyhium (cuticle) - the edge of skin fold covering the nail root that is continuous with the stratum spinosum of the epidermis
• hyponyhium - boundary layer under the free edge of the nail, that is continuous with the stratum spinosum of the epidermis