Nail (anatomy)

Nail
Human fingernails
Details
SystemIntegumentary system
Identifiers
Latinunguis
MeSHD009262
TA98A16.0.01.001
TA27065
THH3.12.00.3.02001
FMA54326
Anatomical terminology

A nail is a protective plate characteristically found at the tip of the digits (fingers and toes) of all primates, 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.[1]

  1. ^ Wang, Bin (2016). "Keratin: Structure, mechanical properties, occurrence in biological organisms, and efforts at bioinspiration" (PDF). Progress in Materials Science. 76: 229–318. doi:10.1016/j.pmatsci.2015.06.001.