Research, Technology

What are human nails made of and what can they say about health?

In everyday life, we do not notice this, butnails are very important parts of our body. They are on the upper and lower extremities of humans, as well as most primates. It is believed that we need these hard plates in order to firmly hold objects, protect the ends of the fingers from damage, and in some cases even diagnose diseases. It may seem that the nails are ordinary plates of some organic material. But, in fact, they have a rather complex structure, which many people do not even think about. For example, do you know what the white areas at the base of the nails are called and what they are for? If you are not a nail artist, you probably do not know the answer to this question. I propose to learn more about the structure of nails and thereby expand your horizons a little.

Nails have a complex structure and are worthy of a special article on our website.

Content

  • 1 What are nails made of?
  • 2 How do human nails grow?
  • 3 What causes white spots on nails?
  • 4 Definition of diseases by the condition of the nails

What are nails made of?

From a biological point of view, nails areskin appendages in the form of horny plates at the ends of the fingers and toes. They are derivatives of the epidermis - the outer layer of the human skin. In terms of composition and purpose, nails are made up of the durable alpha-keratin protein and are designed to both protect fingers and better hold objects. It is worth noting that alpha-keratin is also found in the hooves and claws of animals, that is, the nails in humans are almost the same as the ends of the limbs in animals.

Human nails are mainly composed of alpha-keratin, and water molecules give them shine.

How do human nails grow?

Each nail on a person's fingers can be dividedinto two important parts, body and root. The body is the strongest part that protects our fingers from impacts and helps to hold objects. But the root of the nail is what is under the body and is seen simply as a whitish area of ​​a semi-lunar shape (lunula). Each root of the nail contains matrix, which is where the nails grow from.

Complete structure of the main parts of the nail

The matrix is ​​made up of cells called onychoblasts. Their main task is to divideresulting in nail growth. Each new cell takes the place of the old one and thereby pushes forward the cells formed before it. At the same time, the process of keratinization occurs, when the keratin protein begins to enter the cells. Between the layers of keratin, layers of fat and water are formed, which give the nails elasticity and shine.

A human nail under a microscope is far from the most pleasant sight.

Interesting fact: human nail growth rate is 0.1millimeters per day. According to statistics, nails grow faster in women than in men. It has also been observed that the growth process accelerates in summer and slows down in winter.

What causes white spots on nails?

Sometimes one or more white spots appear on the nails. First, they are at the base of the nails, and then move forward as they grow. This phenomenon is called leukonychia, but few know about the cause of its occurrence.The popular version says that white spots on the fingers are due to a lack of microelements like zinc in the body. Scientists believe that this is not always the case - there can be a lot of reasons for their appearance. For example, spots can appear due to injuries on the fingers, incomplete keratinization of the nail, the presence of infections in the body, and even liver disease.

white stripe on nail

Important: the condition of the nails can tell a lot aboutthe state of human health. If they have grooves, spots, bulges and other oddities, this may be a signal to go to the hospital. Warning signs are also a change in the color, thickness and strength of the nails.

Definition of diseases by the condition of the nails

By the appearance of the nails, you can reallyunderstand that something strange is happening with the body. But it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis by the presence of points, the characteristics of the nail roots, and so on. On the Internet, you can find many articles that explain the relationship between the condition of the nails and the presence of diseases. Conventionally, they may say that a reduced whitish area on the thumb may be evidence of problems with the respiratory system and mental health. In fact, most of these claims have no scientific basis - the roots of this "knowledge" come from Tibetan and other traditional medicine.

Nails can signal the development of diseases, but instead of searching for information on the Internet, it is better to immediately consult a doctor

In fact, white areas at the base of the nailsmay be completely absent. Some people have them, but not on all fingers. All this is influenced by many factors, including heredity. So, if a person feels unwell, you should not study the nails - it is better to immediately consult a doctor.

Some people may not have lunulae on their nails, especially on the little fingers.

However, sometimes scientists scientists providescientific evidence of a relationship between nail health and health problems. For example, in 2021 it was found that a change in the condition of the nails can be a sign of fatty liver disease. This deadly disease occurs due to excessive deposition of fatty droplets in the liver cells.

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And if you still want to listen to the folkmedicine, it is better to first read the material of my colleague Lyubov Sokovikova - she explained in detail what it is and how safe such medicine is. Here's the link.