North Dakota Cosmetology License Exam — All Questions

The visible part of the nail that rests on the nail bed is called the nail plate. What is the term for the crescent-shaped, lighter area at the base of the nail?

• a.The free edge
• b.The eponychium
• c.The hyponychium
• d.The lunula✓

The lunula is the whitish, half-moon shape at the base of the nail; it is the visible part of the matrix, where nail cells are produced. The free edge is the part of the nail plate that extends past the fingertip. The eponychium is the living skin (cuticle area) at the base overlapping the plate, and the hyponychium is the skin beneath the free edge. Knowing nail anatomy helps a nail technician work safely without injuring living tissue.

A nail technician should understand the difference between a nail disorder and a nail disease. Which of the following can generally be serviced in the salon?

• a.A nail with signs of active infection, swelling, pus, or inflammation
• b.A noninfectious cosmetic disorder such as ridges or discoloration with no signs of infection✓
• c.A nail with a suspected fungal infection (onychomycosis)
• d.An inflamed, infected area around the nail (paronychia)

A general safety rule: if a nail or skin shows signs of infection or inflammation — redness, swelling, pus, heat, or a suspected fungal or bacterial infection — the client should be referred to a physician and the service should not be performed. Noninfectious cosmetic disorders (such as harmless ridges, minor discoloration, or brittleness) with no signs of infection can usually be worked on and improved cosmetically. When in doubt, do not service and refer out.

To prevent the spread of infection between clients during manicures and pedicures, a nail technician must:

• a.Reuse disposable files and buffers on the next client if they look clean
• b.Rinse metal implements under water only between clients
• c.Discard single-use (porous) items after one client and clean then disinfect reusable implements in an EPA-registered disinfectant✓
• d.Disinfect the foot basin only at the end of the week

Porous, single-use items such as nail files, buffers, and wooden pushers cannot be properly disinfected and must be discarded after one client. Reusable, nonporous metal implements must be cleaned to remove debris and then immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant for the required contact time. Pedicure foot basins/spas are a known source of infection and must be cleaned and disinfected after every client, following the manufacturer's and regulatory procedures.