nail

Also known as unguis

hard projection of digit

AI overview

A nail is a hard, pointed projection that grows from the end of your fingers and toes, made of layers of a protein called keratin. Nails protect the sensitive tips of your digits and help you grip and manipulate objects with precision.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Research

53,549 papers

Nail Psoriasis.ReviewActas dermo-sifiliograficas · 2022Canal-García E, Bosch-Amate X, Belinchón I et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2022.01.006
Nail cosmetology.ReviewHand surgery & rehabilitation · 2024Scheers C, Andre J, Richert BDOI: 10.1016/j.hansur.2024.101657
Review of Nail Lichen Planus: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment.ReviewDermatologic clinics · 2021Gupta MK, Lipner SRDOI: 10.1016/j.det.2020.12.002
Nail anatomy.Clinics in dermatology · 2013de Berker DDOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.06.006
Nail Abnormalities.ReviewAmerican family physician · 2025Leggit JC
Nail Cosmetics and Adornment.ReviewDermatologic clinics · 2021Draelos ZDDOI: 10.1016/j.det.2021.01.001
Nail dystrophy for the surgeon.ReviewHand surgery & rehabilitation · 2024Dumontier C, Braga da Silva JDOI: 10.1016/j.hansur.2024.101635
Nail histopathology.ReviewActas dermo-sifiliograficas · 2013Martin BDOI: 10.1016/j.adengl.2013.06.001

via PubMed

~21 min read

Encyclopedic overview

A nail is a protective plate characteristically found at the tip of the digits (fingers and toes) of almost all primates (except for marmosets), corresponding to the claws in other tetrapod animals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough rigid protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer also found in the claws, hooves, and horns of vertebrates.

Structure

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “nail” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.