Question

multiple choice question

which of the following makes up the nail structure?

nail root
lunula
cuticle
keratin

Explanation:

Identify the core question

The question asks which of the listed options makes up the actual physical substance or material composition of the nail structure.

Analyze the options

• Nail root: This is an anatomical region of the nail located under the skin where growth begins, rather than the material substance itself.
• Lunula: This is the visible crescent-shaped, whitish area at the base of the nail, representing the visible part of the nail matrix.
• Cuticle: This is the dead skin fold (eponychium) that covers the base of the nail plate, serving as a protective barrier.
• Keratin: This is a tough, fibrous structural protein that constitutes the primary chemical composition of the nail plate, hair, and outer skin layer.

Determine the correct composition

Nails are composed of hard, tightly packed, dead keratinized epidermal cells. Therefore, the protein Keratin is the substance that makes up the nail structure.

Answer:

• (A) Nail root
• (B) Lunula
• (C) Cuticle
• (D) Keratin (Correct answer)