Recently smashed my finger and lost the nail and it got me wondering what is the biological / mechanical / etc function / reason for fingernails? Sure it would be harder to grip little things, but is there a structural reason why our digits need these things?
EDIT: Follow up question. What is different about the skin underneath your nail that makes it so painful when initially exposed to air?
In: 273
Everyone else already answered your first question but I want to address the second one. The skin underneath your nail is rich in nerve endings and blood supply. When your nail separated from the nailbed, it’s likely that it injured the sensitive skin. Also, exposure to air dries out the wound and a dry environment causes cell death, which leads to more of that painful stinging feeling. Luckily, the high blood supply also means the nailbed heals faster compared to other wounds
Latest Answers