The Anatomy of Nails
The nails protect the nerve-rich fingertips and tips of the toes from injury. Nails are a substructure of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) and are composed mainly of keratin, a type of protein The nail bed is the skin on top of which the nails grow. Nails grow from 0.05 to 1.2 millimeters(approximately 1/20 inch) a week. If a nail is lost, it takes about seven months to grow out fully.
Healthy nail beds are pink, indicating a rich bold supply. Changes or abnormalities in the nails are often the result of nutritional deficiencies or other underlying conditions. The nails can reveal a great deal about the body's internal health.
