** Nails

Have you ever wondered about your fingernails and toenails? Have you thought about the purpose of these nails, and why we need them? It's something I never stopped to consider at all, so when I came upon the following bits of information, it did strike me as interesting.

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How do fingernails grow?

Fingernails and toenails grow from a point near the roots below the skin, at the base of the nail where the nail is very thin. White in color, and half-moon in shape, this semi-circle is appropriately named the "lunula," and comprises a group of cells that manufacture keratin, a dead, hoof-like protein. The keratin like protein produced, gathers and merges with the nail plate, the dead armor that protects the soft and tender nail bed underneath, and pushes the entire nail up and out. Though the fingernails and toenails grow an average of two inches per year, their growth slows with age, and the average adult's fingernails grow only one inch over the course of eight months.

The base of the fingernails and toenails, as well as some of the nail along both sides of the nail, are embedded into the skin. Unlike other skin, this skin contains elastic fibers that connect it to the fingernail or toenail, and hold it firmly in place. The cuticle, a rim of skin over the lunula, protects it from bacterial infection, serves as a shock absorber, and shields the nail from any sudden impacts.

Though many consider dressing the fingernails up to go out a statement of beauty, or one of vanity, they serve those in the medical field as a diagnostic tool. Normally, the lunula, or half-moon, is white in color, indicating proper nutrition and good overall health. Blue lunula raise red flags that circulatory problems to the fingers may exist. Nails that are hard, brittle, and tend to split easily, may also be clues to poor circulation, infection, or disturbances of the glandular and nutritional systems.

Further nails that curl sharply around the finger point to coronary, liver, or lung diseases. Nails that are sunken in appearance often indicate anemia, a condition where an insufficient amount of oxygen is carried by the blood.

Facts on nails:

* The skin on fingertips are protected by nails.

* Nails are dead cells and made of protein called keratin (like hair).

* Feeding nutrients to the nails go beyond the surface.

* The surface of a nail is called the nail plate.

* The cuticle is the skin that grows from the finger onto the base of the nail (nail root).

* Nail moons are found at the base of the nails. They are also known as lunule.

* Small or no moons may indicate low metabolism while large moons may indicate an active metalbolism.

* Nail moons disappear with age.

* The average growth rate a day is 0.1 mm.

* Nails grow fastest on the more active hand.

* Nails grow faster during summer and pregnancy.

* Young people grow nails at a faster rate.

* Fingernails grow at least 2 times faster than toenails.

* Weather, activity, hormonal changes and age all have an effect on the rate of nail growth.

* With age nails tend to thicken, harden, grow slower and ridges appear.

* When a nail is detached from the skin (nail bed), it could take up to 6 months for a fingernail and almost 18 months for a toenail to grow right back.

* Though the appearance of nails could often point to any diet imbalance or certain health problems, they are most often not sole indicators but will be heralded by other more prominent signs and symptoms.