Use the nail anatomy and physiology quiz below to test your knowledge on the basic structure of the nail unit. While our fingernails and toenails may seem like a simple structure, they actually have special tissues and folds. In addition, our nails serve several important functions, and they can also be used to assess for certain diseases or the health status of a patient.
Before taking this nail anatomy quiz, you might want to review our nail anatomy notes, or watch our nail anatomy video.
Nail Anatomy Quiz
(NOTE: When you hit submit, it will refresh this same page. Scroll down to see your results.)
Nail Anatomy Quiz
1. What is the skin fold along each side of the nail plate called?
a. Onychodermal band
b. Eponychium
c. Lateral fold
d. Hyponychium
The answer is c, lateral fold. The skin fold along each side of the nail plate is called the lateral fold, and the fold at the base of the nail plate is called the proximal fold.
2. The epithelial tissue that lies under the free edge and is distal to the nail bed is called what?
a. Eponychium
b. Hyponychium
c. Perionychium
d. Paronychium
The answer is b, hyponychium. Remember, the prefix hypo means under, and nychium refers to the claw/nail. This tissue helps seal the distal edge of the nail bed and protects it from germs.
3. The lunula is the small, white crescent that is often visible at the base (proximal edge) of the nail plate.
a. True
b. False
The answer is true (a). The lunula is the white (lunar) crescent shape at the proximal edge of the visible nail plate.
4. The tissue under the nail plate that gives the nail its pinkish color is called what?
a. Hyponychium
b. Germinal matrix
c. Eponichyium
d. Nail bed (sterile matrix)
The answer is d, the nail bed, also called the sterile matrix, attaches to the nail plate and gives it its color.
5. The skin fold at the base (proximal end) of the nail’s body is called what?
a. Hyponychium
b. Lateral fold
c. Proximal fold
d. Free edge
The answer is c, proximal fold. The word proximal is a directional term that means “near the origination of the structure.” This fold is the proximal fold because it is near the origination point (base) of the nail unit.
6. Which statement about the nail’s cuticle is false?
a. The cuticle is produced by the eponychium
b. The cuticle is a thin, transparent layer covering the proximal end of the nail plate, consisting of dead cells
c. The cuticle is sometimes called the eponychium because the two are continuous, but many anatomists insist that these tissues are distinct
d. The cuticle is the small white crescent at the base of the nail plate.
The incorrect statement is (d). The lunula is the small white crescent at the base of the visible nail plate, not the cuticle.
7. Nails are one of the appendages of the integumentary system.
a. True
b. False
The answer is (a) true. The nails are one of four major appendages of the integumentary system. The other three appendages include the hair, sebaceous (oil) glands, and sweat glands.
8. Which statement regarding the nail plate (also called the nail body) is false?
a. The nail plate is translucent, allowing the color of the nail bed to show through
b. The nail plate is made of layers of dead keratinocytes
c. The nail plate is unattached to the nail bed
d. The nail plate is attached to the nail bed
The incorrect answer is (c). The nail plate attaches to the nail bed to keep it in place.
9. What is the function of the nails?
a. Nails function as a tools, helping us scrape, scratch, and more
b. Nails protect the distal end of the digits
c. Nails assist with sensation in the underlying skin tissue
d. They act as ornaments / beauty accessories
e. All of the above
The answer is e, all of the above. Remember the mnemonic STOP: Sensation, tool, ornament, and protection.
10. Which tissue helps seal the proximal fold against the nail plate and produces the cuticle?
a. Hyponychium
b. Eponychium
c. Paronychium
d. Perionychium
The answer is b, eponychium. This tissue helps seal the proximal fold against the nail plate, and it also produces the cuticle.
11. What word refers to all of the tissues surrounding and supporting the nail plate, such as the eponychium, hyponychium, paronychium, and folds?
a. Paronychium
b. Eponychium
c. Hyponychium
d. Perionychium
The answer is d, perionychium. The parionychium includes all of the tissue surrounding the nail, including the eponychium, paronychium, hyponychium, and nail bed.
12. What is the part of the hardened nail called that is hidden in skin and covered by the proximal fold?
a. The root
b. The sterile matrix
c. The eponychium
d. The onychodermal band
The answer is a. The root of the nail is hidden in the skin and covered by the proximal fold.
13. What is the tissue called that is responsible for most of the nail’s growth?
a. The sterile matrix
b. The proximal fold
c. The germinal matrix
d. The lateral fold
The answer is c, the germinal matrix is responsible for most of the growth of the nail.
14. What is the part of the nail called that overhangs the tip and is no longer connected to the nail bed?
a. The lateral fold
b. The hyponychium
c. A hangnail
d. The free edge
The answer is d, the free edge. This is the part that you clip with fingernail clippers. It often appears white because it is no longer attached to the nail bed, which gives the nail’s body its pinkish color.
*Disclaimer: While we do our best to provide students with accurate and in-depth study quizzes, this quiz/test is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please refer to the latest NCLEX review books for the latest updates in nursing. This quiz is copyright RegisteredNurseRn.com. Please do not copy this quiz directly; however, please feel free to share a link to this page with students, friends, and others.