California Cosmetology Written ExamNail CareEasy
Which part of the nail unit is the visible, hardened portion composed of keratin that extends from the matrix to the free edge?
- ALunula
- BNail plate
- CNail bed
- DNail groove
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Nail plate
The nail plate is the hard, translucent keratin structure that sits on top of the nail bed and extends from the matrix to the free edge. It is what technicians file, shape, and polish.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The lunula is the visible portion of the matrix, appearing as a whitish half-moon at the base.
- C. The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate that gives it a pink color, not the hard plate itself.
- D. The nail groove is a slit on either side of the nail plate that guides its growth.
Nail Plate
The hardened keratin structure that forms the body of the nail, extending from the matrix to the free edge, resting on the nail bed.
- Composed of translucent keratin
- Attached to nail bed but not fused to matrix
- Grows continuously from the matrix
Memory trick: Plate = the plate you file on top of the bed.