Toenails
Ungues pedis
Integumentary (skin)SkinLegLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- Keratin plates on the dorsal tips of the five toes; the big-toe nail is by far the largest.
- Function
- Protect the tips of the toes and give counter-pressure to the toe pulp.
- Size
- Big-toe nail ~15–18 mm wide; toenails grow only ~1–1.5 mm per month (12–18 months to regrow)
- Clinical note
- Ingrown toenail (onychocryptosis) usually affects the big toe, promoted by tight shoes and cutting the nail edges too short.