Slide 195 Image 1/2
The dorsal part of the toe is covered by a nail plate; the ventral surface has the fleshy fingertip. The nail plate extends forward over the nail bed from underneath the nail wall to its free edge. The proximal edge of the nail grows from the dividing matrix cells. Under the proximal nail wall the keratinized layer of the skin attaches to the dorsum of the nail - this is the eponychium. Under the distal free edge of the nail the keratinized layer of the fleshy finger tip attaches to the ventral surface - this is the hyponychium.