WHAT ARE OUR FINGERNAILS MADE OF?

Fingernails are made of a tough protein called keratin, from the Greek word ‘kera’, meaning horn. Keratin is also what animals’ hooves and horns are made from. Most animals have a supportive bone structure in their horns, although rhinoceros horns are made completely of keratin compacted together. The only other biological material which has a similar toughness to keratinised tissue is chitin, the main component of exoskeletons belonging to arthropods.

The crescent shapes that you can see at the bottom of your nails are called lunulae. These are groups of cells that produce keratin and other living cells. As these living cells are pushed forward by newer cells, they die and merge with the keratin to become keratinised. They then become flattened, stiff and known as your fingernails.