Fingernails Have Feelings Too You Know Quiz

Answer: Proteins

Keratin belongs to a biological group of fibrous structural proteins. Proteins are molecules that comprise chains of amino acid residue - and the thigh bone's connected to the hip bone if we continued in this way. Not only are our nails made from keratin, but also our hair, and, believe it or not, part of our tongue and hard palate as well. Tongues are revolting looking things when you consider them. I must do a quiz on them one day. Keratin is also found in wool, horns, claws, hooves, feathers, beaks and turtle shells. That's amazing isn't it?

Answer: The tissue underneath the nail

The matrix is a very sensitive area that the nail covers and protects like a helmet. It contains nerves, blood vessels and lymphatic fluid, and is located underneath the base of the nail where it first protrudes from the skin. In a type of co-dependency relationship with the nail, its job is to produce cells that become the nail, which then shows its gratitude in return by standing guard over it.

The rest of the area underneath the nail is known as the nail bed.

Answer: The nail will be permanently deformed

While part of the nail, the lunula could be said to be a separate structure, because, if the nail is somehow suddenly removed, the lunula will still remain in place. It is located on top of the matrix, but underneath the nail. In a way it's like another tiny fingernail. If that lunula is damaged in any way though, the nail which grows from it will be permanently misshapen.

It isn't really white either, but only appears that way when viewed from the top. The word lunula means small moon. Not everyone has visible lunulae but that is perfectly normal. I don't have them, but I think that is because they all fell off last night.

Answer: At the very root of the nail

The sinus of each nail lies at its very root, underneath the skin where it can't be seen, and just on top of that same area of the nail's matrix. Nails are turning out to be far more interesting than I thought. Its official nail is the sinus unguis, and its purpose is to more or less house that very root of the nail.

Answer: The plate

The plate is that visible and hard part of our nail made up of keratin. Oh dear, this is a bit off-putting: The plate's hardness is created from layers of dead compacted cells. The shape of each nail is created by the shape of the bone on the end of each finger. Those who read hands for a living insist they can tell a lot from the shape of a person's nails.

Answer: Distal edge

Scientists usually look on this as the abrasive or cutting edge of the nail - and indeed it is just that - but for lay people such as myself, it's the part of the nail we use to scratch an itch. A nail's wall is comprised of those parts of the skin along the sides and bottom of the nail into which the nail is embedded. The areas underneath those parts are known as the lateral margins.

Answer: The quick

The quick of a nail is those parts of the end of the nail just where the nail begins to lift up from the skin to which it has hitherto been joined. If someone has "bitten their nails to the quick" you may understand that image better. The hyponychium is like the edge around a garden bed, protecting that which rests within the bed itself. The cuticle of a nail is that semi-tough layer of dead skin around the outside edges at the front of each nail. It is clipped off usually by manicurists if you ever have a manicure done by such a professional. You'll know if they've trimmed too much off though. How? You'll hear yourself give a hearty yelp.

Did you know that plants have cuticles too? In them, that's the wax like substance that covers each leaf, allowing just the correct amount of moisture to be retained underneath, and preventing the absorption of too much external moisture.

Answer: Both of these

A finger nail not only helps protect the sensitive ends of each finger, but it also helps to increase that sensitivity. It does this by acting as a counter-force arching over the finger and pressing down to increase the sense of touch below. A little like a bottle of Coca-Cola perhaps before it is opened.

It retains all its fizz before being initially opened, but then when the lid is removed, half the fizz flies away almost immediately, and the taste is consequently lessened. The lid keeps the fizz in, the fingernail keeps the sensitivity enhanced likewise.

Answer: Yes

How interesting is that? They do indeed. A nail's growth rate is related to the length of the bones at the end of each finger. The little finger, for example, has a much slower growing fingernail than that on the index finger. And toenails grow slower than fingernails. The things we learn on Fun Trivia.

Answer: The little toe has two nails growing upon it

The inherited accessory of the fifth toe is where the little toe on one foot, or both feet, develops two separate toenails. The additional toenail is smaller than the main toenail, but still, there it is in all its glory. This is said to be quite prevalent in the Han Chinese people of the world, but this hasn't been scientifically proven to date and may be a legend. Perhaps there's just more of them and that's the reason why more toenails appear.

This myth behind this extra toenail goes back to the time of the legendary Yellow Emperor of China (2698-2598 BC), and a war between the descendants of that emperor (the Henan) and the nomadic Qiangs. On seeking to rescue an abducted Qiang woman from the Henan, she was stabbed in the abdomen by the leader of the Henan. What a charming chap. She subsequently gave birth to twins, with a scar on the small toe of each foot, caused by the knife's blade, and their descendants today are born with that extra toenail as a result.