Abstract
The nail plate is a fully keratinized structure produced by the germinative epithelium of the nail matrix. As it grows, the nail plate emerges from the proximal nail fold and progresses distally lying across and adhering to the nail bed. As the nail plate approaches the tip of the digit, it detaches from the underlying tissues at the level of the hyponychium [1, 2]. The nail is bound proximally by the proximal nail fold, laterally by the lateral nail folds, and distally by the distal nail fold [3]. The main function of the nail apparatus is to act as a protective covering for the dorsal aspect of the distal digits [1–4]. Nails increase sensory perception at the finger pads, facilitate object manipulation and contribute to temperature regulation.