The Anatomy of the Nail

Just like our skin and hair, our nails are made up of small keratin cells. These keratin cells are produced in the Matrix, located just under the skin behind the cuticle.

In front of the matrix and the cuticle is what we call the lunula. The lunula is the area most people recognize as the “little white half-moon.” In the lunula, keratin cells compress, changing from white and loose to flat and transparent. This explains the little white half-moon that transitions into the pink nail plate.

Once the keratin cells are compressed in the lunula, they grow out to form the nail plate, which adheres to the skin. The next section of the nail that no longer adheres to the skin is called the free edge.

The exact point where the nail plate separates from the skin is called the hyponychium. A normal hyponychium will release the nail without issues, while an overgrown hyponychium will grow slightly with the nail, forming a thin layer of sensitive skin under the free edge.

The lateral folds sit on the sides of the nail. These are simply the skin folds that protect the sides of the nail with skin.