eli5 How does the nail grow if the skin under it is attached to it

Question

i’ve noticed the skin under my nails is firmly attached to the nail and doesn’t separate from it, which got me thinking how does the nail grow and move forward without disrupting this “attachment” of the skin

In: 26

Answer 1

The skin under your nail is attached to the nail using a type of adhesive. It is not a glue or connective tissue but an adhesive. You can think of your nail more as a post-it note. While it is attached to the surface you can still move it either using enough force or by applying force over time.