What's a nail?

Have you ever wondered? Here's what your nails are all about ...

A nail, also known as a nail plate, is a protective covering made of proteins called keratin which consists significantly of amino acids, similar to your hair.
Underneath this protective covering is the matrix which is the only living part of your nail.
The white crescent at the beginning of your nail is called the lunula and is part of the matrix.
Your cuticle is a layer of skin that acts as protector of the matrix