| A | B |
|---|
| nail unit | composed of several major parts, including the nail plate, nail bed, matrix, cuticle, eponychium, hyponychium, specialized ligaments, an nail folds. |
| nail plate | a hardened keratin plate that sits on and covers the nail bed. |
| free edge | the part of the nail plate that extends over the tip of the finger or toe. |
| nail bed | the portion of the living skin that supports the nail plate as it grows toward the free edge. |
| bed epithelium | helps guide the nail plate along the nail bed as it grows. |
| matrix | the area where the nail plate cells are formed. |
| lunula | the visible part of the matrix that extends from underneath the living skin. |
| cuticle | the dead, coloress tissue attached to the natural nail plate. |
| eponychium | the living skin at the base of the natural nail plate covering the matrix area. |
| perionychium | the living skin bordering the root and sides of a fingernail or toenail. |
| hyponychium | the slightly thickened layer of skin under the nail that lies between the fingertip and the free edge of the nail plate. |
| ligament | a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds an organ in place. |
| nail folds | folds of normal skin that surround the nail plate. |
| sidewall | also known as the lateral nail fold, is the fold of skin overlapping the side of the nail |
| nail malformation | an abnormal nail shape or form. |
