Anatomy & DisordersQuestion 68 of 100
What is the function of the nail grooves and the nail folds (sidewalls)?
a.They produce the new nail cells at the base of the nail
b.They seal the nail plate so water cannot pass under it
c.They deliver the blood supply directly into the nail plate
d.They form the tracks and folds of skin that hold the nail plate and guide it as it grows forward
Explanation
The nail grooves are the narrow tracks on each side of the nail bed, and the nail folds or sidewalls are the skin that overlaps them; together they hold the plate in place and steer its growth toward the fingertip. New nail cells come only from the matrix, the seal under the free edge is the hyponychium, and the plate itself has no blood supply because it is dead keratin. Filing or cutting into the sidewalls damages living skin and can lead to an ingrown nail.
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