How+do+fingernails+work?


 * __HOW DO FINGERNAILS WORK?__**

Answer the question below, append new answers to the top of this page. _ __Response 1:__ How do fingernails work? Fingernails work because nails start growing in the nail root, under your cuticle. When cells in the root of the nail grow, the new nail cells push out the old nail cells. These old cells harden and flatten. This is because of the keratin in your nail. The new nail slides across the nail bed. The nail bed is the flat surface under your nails. This nail bed sits on top of tiny blood vessels. This is what gives your nail it pink colour. Fingernails grow at about 2.5 mm each month. Growth from root to tip is achieved in usually about 4 months. This is 1/3 of a year. Your cuticle helps protect your nail as it is growing out from the nail root. The cuticle is where the nail meets the skin. Nails are made up of keratin. This is the same substance that is in your hair and the top layer of your skin.
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Nail root: Base of the nail imbedded underneath the skin. Cuticle: The nonliving layer of skin that surrounds the edges of the fingernails or toenails. Keratin: A substance found in the dead outer skin layer, hair, nails, horns, feathers, claws, etc.

Sadie Clark, December 6th 2011 http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/your_nails.html http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/nail_(anatomy).aspx - From The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/nail.aspx#3-1O128:nails-full - From The Oxford Companion to the Body 2001 Colin Blakemore and Shelia jennett. http://dictionary.reference.com/

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