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NC Nail Technician study materials
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NC Nail Technician practice questions

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Question 1Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

The process of using soap and water with friction to remove dirt, debris, and many microorganisms from a surface is called:

  1. Disinfection
  2. Cleaning Correct answer.
  3. Sterilization
  4. Sanitizing

Explanation

Cleaning is a mechanical process in which soap or detergent, water, and friction lift and rinse away visible soil along with a large number of microorganisms. It must be done before disinfection, because leftover soil blocks the disinfectant from reaching the surface.

Question 2Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Which product is required for disinfecting reusable implements so that it inactivates tuberculosis bacteria, HIV, and hepatitis B virus?

  1. An EPA-registered hospital disinfectant Correct answer.
  2. Rubbing alcohol at 70 percent strength
  3. An ultraviolet light storage cabinet
  4. A quaternary ammonium deodorizing spray

Explanation

Only an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant labeled tuberculocidal is proven to kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis along with HIV and hepatitis B virus on implements. Alcohol, deodorizing sprays, and UV cabinets do not meet that standard.

Question 3Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

How long should a nail technician wash her hands with soap and warm running water?

  1. Two minutes
  2. Five seconds
  3. At least 20 seconds Correct answer.
  4. Ten minutes

Explanation

Hand washing should last at least 20 seconds, using friction over the palms, backs of hands, between fingers, and under the nails. Shorter washing does not give the soap enough time to lift and rinse microorganisms away.

Question 4Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Which item cannot be adequately disinfected and must be discarded after use on one client?

  1. A wooden orangewood stick Correct answer.
  2. A glass dappen dish
  3. A metal cuticle pusher
  4. A stainless steel nail clipper

Explanation

Porous materials such as wood, paper, and porous foam absorb liquids and trap organisms deep in their pores, where disinfectant cannot reliably reach. These items are single-use and are thrown away after each client.

Question 5Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

An autoclave destroys microorganisms using:

  1. Soap and water
  2. Steam under pressure Correct answer.
  3. Ultraviolet light
  4. Dry heat at low temperature

Explanation

Autoclaves use saturated steam under pressure at high temperature to destroy all microbial life, including bacterial spores. It is the sterilization method used for metal implements that may contact broken skin.

Question 6Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Which item is designed for one client only and must be discarded after use?

  1. A metal cuticle pusher
  2. A foam nail buffer Correct answer.
  3. Stainless steel nippers
  4. A glass dappen dish

Explanation

Foam buffers, nail files, cotton, and wooden sticks are porous disposables that cannot be cleaned and disinfected reliably, so they are used once and discarded. Nonporous metal and glass implements are reusable after proper processing.

Question 7Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Which product is appropriate to apply to a small cut on a client's skin?

  1. Hospital disinfectant
  2. Sodium hypochlorite bleach
  3. Quaternary ammonium concentrate
  4. An antiseptic Correct answer.

Explanation

Antiseptics are formulated for use on living tissue and are safe for minor cuts, while disinfectants are intended for implements and surfaces and can damage skin. After cleaning the area, an antiseptic and a bandage are applied.

Question 8Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

What is the correct use of an ultraviolet (UV) light cabinet in a nail salon?

  1. Disinfecting porous files
  2. Storing clean, disinfected implements Correct answer.
  3. Replacing hand washing
  4. Sterilizing nippers between clients

Explanation

UV cabinets do not penetrate well enough to disinfect or sterilize and are accepted only as covered storage for implements that have already been cleaned and disinfected. Proper chemical disinfection or autoclaving must come first.

Question 9Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A metal cuticle pusher has visible debris on it after a service. What is the correct order of steps before it is used again?

  1. Rinse it under running water and spray it with alcohol before reuse
  2. Scrub with soap and water, dry, then immerse in disinfectant Correct answer.
  3. Wipe it with a towel and place it in the UV cabinet afterward
  4. Immerse it in disinfectant first, then scrub it with soap and water

Explanation

Implements must be cleaned first so that all visible debris is removed, because organic matter prevents the disinfectant from contacting the surface. The dry item is then fully immersed in an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant for the label's contact time.

Question 10Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

After a pedicure is finished, the whirlpool foot spa should be:

  1. Rinsed with water and left to air dry overnight
  2. Drained, scrubbed with soap, then disinfected Correct answer.
  3. Wiped with a towel and refilled for the next client
  4. Sprayed with an air freshener and then covered

Explanation

Foot spas must be drained, scrubbed with soap and a brush to remove debris and biofilm from the basin and jets, rinsed, and then disinfected with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant for the full contact time. Wiping alone never reaches the internal plumbing.

Question 11Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

During a service you accidentally nick the client's cuticle and it bleeds. What should you do?

  1. Stop the service and clean the cut with an antiseptic Correct answer.
  2. Apply a disinfectant to the cuticle
  3. Continue the service and bandage the cut at the end of the appointment
  4. Rinse the cuticle with disinfectant and then reapply lotion

Explanation

Any blood exposure means stopping the service, putting on gloves if not already wearing them, cleaning the area with an antiseptic, and bandaging it. Disinfectants are not for living tissue, and continuing the service spreads contamination.

Question 12Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for salon chemicals provide information about:

  1. The wholesale cost of each product in inventory
  2. The allergy history of each client on file
  3. Hazards, safe handling, and first-aid measures Correct answer.
  4. The salon liability insurance requirements

Explanation

Manufacturers must supply an SDS for each hazardous chemical, covering identification, hazards, safe handling and storage, exposure controls, and first-aid measures. The sheets must be kept accessible to everyone working in the salon.

Question 13Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A slimy film builds up inside the foot spa's jets and tubing, sheltering bacteria that resist ordinary rinsing. This film is called:

  1. Rust
  2. Hard water scale
  3. Biofilm Correct answer.
  4. Keratin dust

Explanation

Biofilm is a community of microorganisms held together in a protective matrix that sticks to wet surfaces such as spa plumbing. It must be broken up by mechanical scrubbing with a brush before disinfection can work.

Question 14Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Why should bleach never be mixed with a product that contains ammonia?

  1. The mixture loses all of its cleaning power
  2. The mixture stains metal implements
  3. The bleach turns into a soapy paste
  4. Toxic chloramine gas is produced Correct answer.

Explanation

Mixing bleach with ammonia releases chloramine vapors that can cause severe respiratory injury. Chemicals must be used exactly as labeled and never combined with one another.

Question 15Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A metal file falls onto the floor in the middle of a service. What must be done before it touches a client again?

  1. Clean and disinfect it before reuse Correct answer.
  2. Set it aside for the next client
  3. Rinse it under running water
  4. Wipe it on your towel and keep using it

Explanation

Anything that contacts the floor is contaminated and must be cleaned and then disinfected before it is used again. Wiping or rinsing alone does not remove soil or kill microorganisms.

Question 16Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

When is a nail technician required to wash her hands?

  1. Before and after every client service Correct answer.
  2. Only when the hands are visibly soiled
  3. Only at the beginning of the day
  4. Only after handling chemicals

Explanation

Hands must be washed before and after every client, after restroom use, after eating, and whenever gloves are removed or torn. Visible soil is not required for hand hygiene to be necessary.

Question 17Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A new client arrives with a thick, discolored, crumbly toenail. What is the appropriate action?

  1. Refer her to a physician and decline the service
  2. Soak the foot for twice as long and then proceed with the service
  3. Apply a colored polish to conceal the discoloration Correct answer.
  4. Trim the nail deeply back and continue with the service

Explanation

A thickened, discolored, crumbly nail may signal a fungal or bacterial infection, which is a contraindication for nail services. The client should be referred to a physician because the condition can spread to other clients and to the technician.

Question 18Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Why must implements be completely submerged in disinfectant for the full contact time printed on the label?

  1. Because trapped air and exposed surfaces are not disinfected Correct answer.
  2. To remove the need for a prior cleaning step
  3. To soften the metal so that cleaning is easier
  4. To keep the disinfectant from evaporating into the room air

Explanation

A disinfectant kills only the surfaces it touches for the labeled time; items floating above the liquid or holding air bubbles are not treated. Contact time is set by the EPA-registered label and must not be shortened.

Question 19Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

How should disinfected implements be stored between clients?

  1. In a cloth towel on the station
  2. In an open drawer with used tools
  3. In a clean, covered container Correct answer.
  4. In a jar of tap water

Explanation

Disinfected implements must be kept clean, dry, and covered so dust, spills, and airborne organisms cannot recontaminate them. Storage with soiled tools or in standing water cancels the effect of disinfection.

Question 20Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

After a manicure, how should reusable cloth towels be handled?

  1. Shaken out, folded, and saved for the next client
  2. Washed in hot water with detergent and bleach Correct answer.
  3. Sprayed with a disinfectant and reused as is
  4. Stored damp in a closed drawer until morning

Explanation

Cloth linens are porous and cannot be disinfected, so they are used once per client and then laundered in hot water with detergent and bleach. Damp storage encourages microbial growth.

Question 21Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

What distinguishes sterilization from disinfection?

  1. Sterilization destroys bacterial spores; disinfection does not Correct answer.
  2. Disinfection requires an autoclave; sterilization does not
  3. Disinfection destroys all viruses; sterilization kills only bacteria
  4. Sterilization is used only on the skin

Explanation

Disinfection destroys most pathogens but not necessarily bacterial spores, while sterilization destroys all microbial life, including spores. In the salon, sterilization is achieved with an autoclave and is reserved for implements that may contact broken skin.

Question 22Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Why must a technician test a reusable disinfectant solution with test strips?

  1. Because the solution changes color as its temperature changes
  2. Dilution, soil, and evaporation weaken the active ingredient Correct answer.
  3. To confirm that the solution still smells strong enough to use on clients
  4. To verify that a filter was used during mixing

Explanation

Reusable disinfectants lose potency through dilution, evaporation, and organic soil, and some require test strips to confirm the minimum effective concentration. A solution below that level will not kill pathogens even if it looks and smells normal.

Question 23Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

The principle of standard precautions means that the technician should:

  1. Ask each client to sign a health disclosure before gloves are used
  2. Disinfect tools only after a visible blood contact
  3. Wear gloves only when a client says he has hepatitis
  4. Treat every client's blood and body fluids as potentially infectious Correct answer.

Explanation

Standard precautions require treating all blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin as infectious regardless of what the technician knows about the client's health. Gloves, hand hygiene, and disinfection are applied for every client, every time.

Question 24Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Which statement about microbial resistance is accurate for salon disinfection?

  1. Bacterial spores resist disinfectants more than most viruses do Correct answer.
  2. Vegetative bacteria are the most difficult organisms to destroy
  3. Fungi can be destroyed only by sterilization
  4. Enveloped viruses survive longer than spores on dry surfaces

Explanation

Bacterial spores are the most resistant form of microbial life and survive many disinfectants, which is why tuberculocidal hospital disinfectants and autoclaving are used. Vegetative bacteria and most enveloped viruses are comparatively easy to inactivate.

Question 25Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A lamp near the manicure table needs a nearby outlet. Which practice best reduces electrical hazard?

  1. Run the lamp cord across the wet floor to reach the outlet
  2. Pull on the cord rather than the plug when unplugging the lamp
  3. Plug several lamps into one adapter
  4. Use a GFCI-protected outlet and keep cords away from water Correct answer.

Explanation

Ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets cut power when current leaks toward water, and keeping cords dry and untangled prevents shock and tripping. Overloading a circuit or yanking the cord creates fire and shock hazards.

Question 26Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A nail technician is about to begin a service. How long should she scrub her hands with soap and warm running water?

  1. At least 20 seconds Correct answer.
  2. At least 3 minutes
  3. Exactly 10 seconds, followed by a sanitizer rub
  4. About 5 seconds

Explanation

Vigorous hand washing with soap and warm running water for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing between the fingers and under the free edges of the nails, physically removes transient microorganisms. A quick rinse or a short scrub does not reduce contamination enough before touching a client.

Question 27Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Why should a nail technician keep her own nails short and free of artificial enhancements while working?

  1. Longer nails make it harder to hold a file steady during shaping
  2. Artificial nails can react with acrylic monomer and lift
  3. Long nails scratch the client's cuticles during lotion massage
  4. Germs collect under longer nails and resist hand washing Correct answer.

Explanation

Microorganisms lodge in the space under and around longer nails and are difficult to remove with soap and water, so short natural nails reduce the chance of passing pathogens to a client. Artificial enhancements also lift at the free edge, creating pockets that trap debris and microbes.

Question 28Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A technician uses a disposable razor to smooth callused skin during a pedicure. How should the razor be handled when she is finished?

  1. Put it in a rigid, labeled sharps container Correct answer.
  2. Soak it in disinfectant and reuse it until it dulls
  3. Wrap it in a paper towel and drop it in the trash can
  4. Rinse it and place it in the drawer for the next client

Explanation

Single-use blades are both sharp and potentially blood-contaminated, so they go directly into a rigid, labeled sharps container rather than ordinary trash. Recapping, bending, or reusing a blade is never acceptable.

Question 29Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Where should a nail technician keep her water bottle during services?

  1. On the shelf with the polish bottles
  2. In the implement drawer, out of the client's way
  3. In a designated area away from the work station Correct answer.
  4. On the manicure table beside the lamp

Explanation

Eating and drinking are restricted to areas away from the work station because hands, tools, and surfaces there may carry pathogens and chemical residue. Keeping drinks off the manicure table prevents accidental ingestion of contaminated material or salon chemicals.

Question 30Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A client's cuticle bleeds and a few drops fall onto the floor. After putting on gloves and absorbing the spill with paper towels, what should the technician do?

  1. Rinse the floor with hot water, then dry it thoroughly with a reusable cloth towel
  2. Spray the area with air freshener and let it air dry
  3. Wipe the area with a disposable wipe and continue the service
  4. Wash with soap and water, then apply a hospital-grade disinfectant Correct answer.

Explanation

A blood spill is first absorbed, then the surface is washed with soap and water and disinfected with a hospital-grade disinfectant used according to its label directions. Contaminated paper towels go into a sealed, labeled waste bag.

Question 31Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A technician notices that the disinfectant jar holding her implements has become cloudy and contains visible filings. What should she do?

  1. Discard it, clean the jar, and mix fresh solution Correct answer.
  2. Top off the jar with fresh disinfectant and keep using it
  3. Add a second disinfectant to strengthen the solution
  4. Strain the solution through a paper towel and reuse it

Explanation

Visible debris and cloudiness mean the solution has been diluted with organic matter and can no longer be relied on to kill pathogens at the labeled dilution. The solution must be discarded, the container cleaned, and a fresh batch mixed according to the label.

Question 32Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A technician is scooping moisturizer from a large jar for a client's hand massage. Which method prevents contaminating the product?

  1. Pour the lotion directly from the jar onto the client's hand
  2. Dip the fingers that touched the client back in for a refill
  3. Dip two fingers in and scoop out what is needed
  4. Remove the needed amount with a clean spatula onto a tissue Correct answer.

Explanation

A clean spatula keeps fingers and client skin out of the container, so microorganisms from one client are not deposited in the product. Taking the needed amount in a single transfer also avoids returning a contaminated tool to the jar.

Question 33Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A client mentions a latex allergy before her manicure. Which choice is best?

  1. Wear the latex gloves but rinse them first
  2. Wear powder-free nitrile gloves for the service Correct answer.
  3. Wear cotton gloves over latex gloves
  4. Work without gloves because latex is the only option

Explanation

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber that does not contain the latex proteins that trigger allergic reactions, so it protects both the client and the technician. Latex-free gloves provide the same barrier without the allergen.

Question 34Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Which practice best protects a technician from inhaling acrylic monomer vapors?

  1. Spray air freshener near the table between clients
  2. Open the bottle only when the client is seated
  3. Wear a loose surgical mask during all sculptured nail services
  4. Use a table exhaust fan and keep containers closed Correct answer.

Explanation

Volatile monomers should be captured at the source with local exhaust ventilation, and containers should stay closed when not in use to limit evaporation. Masks and air fresheners do nothing to remove vapors from the breathing zone.

Question 35Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

How should bottles of nail polish remover and other flammable liquids be stored?

  1. In a closed cabinet away from heat and ignition sources Correct answer.
  2. On an open shelf next to the window so fumes can escape
  3. Beside the wax warmer so they stay warm and pourable
  4. Under the sink with the cleaning chemicals

Explanation

Flammable products belong in closed containers, away from open flames, sparks, and heat sources, and separated from other chemicals. Heat or a nearby ignition source can ignite the accumulated vapors.

Question 36Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

While pouring disinfectant, a splash lands in the technician's eye. What should she do first?

  1. Rub the eye gently to spread the liquid
  2. Close the eye tightly and wait a few minutes to see whether irritation develops
  3. Flush the eye with clean running water for about 15 minutes Correct answer.
  4. Apply an antibiotic eye ointment from the first aid kit

Explanation

Chemical eye contact requires immediate flushing with clean running water for about 15 minutes, followed by medical evaluation. Rubbing or applying ointment can spread the chemical and trap it against the eye.

Question 37Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A technician pours disinfectant from a large jug into a spray bottle for daily use. What must she do?

  1. Mark the bottle with a colored dot only she recognizes
  2. Nothing, as long as she remembers which bottle it is
  3. Label it with the product name and hazard warnings Correct answer.
  4. Keep the spray bottle inside the cabinet with the jug

Explanation

When a chemical is transferred into a secondary container, that container must carry the product name and the hazard information so anyone who uses it knows what it is and how to handle it safely. The law requires this whether or not the same person always uses the bottle.

Question 38Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Which situation would most likely cause the disinfection step to fail?

  1. Residue of oil and nail dust remains in the file's grooves Correct answer.
  2. The implements are dried before being placed in the solution
  3. The implements stay in the solution longer than the label requires
  4. The container is filled until the implements are completely covered

Explanation

Disinfection works only when the implement surface is free of debris and organic matter, which can shield microorganisms and neutralize the disinfectant. Complete immersion for the full labeled contact time, after thorough cleaning, is what makes the process effective.

Question 39Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

A technician puts on one pair of gloves at the start of the day and wears them for every client, changing them only when they tear. Which statement best explains why this is unsafe?

  1. Gloves carry microbes from one client to the next Correct answer.
  2. Gloves need replacing only when they become visibly soiled
  3. Wearing gloves all day causes the technician's hands to perspire
  4. Gloves lose their flexibility after about an hour of wear

Explanation

Gloves are single-use barriers that pick up microorganisms from each client, so reusing one pair transfers those organisms to the next person and to every surface the technician touches. Gloves must be changed between clients and whenever they are torn, punctured, or soiled.

Question 40Infection Control, Sanitation, Disinfection and Safety

Which link in the chain of infection does properly disinfecting reusable implements target?

  1. The mode of transmission, by removing germs from the implement Correct answer.
  2. The portal of entry, by sealing cuts on the client's skin
  3. The susceptible host, by strengthening the client's immune system
  4. The infectious agent itself, by killing all bacteria and all spores

Explanation

Disinfection reduces the number of pathogens on implements so they cannot serve as a vehicle that carries organisms from one client to the next, interrupting transmission. Disinfection does not eliminate every organism, including spores, and it has no effect on the client's immune status or skin barrier.

Question 41Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

Which protein is the main structural component of the nail plate?

  1. Melanin
  2. Elastin
  3. Keratin Correct answer.
  4. Collagen

Explanation

The nail plate is made mostly of keratinized, flattened cells with very little water and lipid content. Keratin is a tough fibrous protein also found in hair and the outer skin layers. Collagen and elastin are structural proteins of the dermis, and melanin is a pigment.

Question 42Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

The whitish, half-moon-shaped area at the base of the visible nail plate is called the:

  1. Nail bed
  2. Lunula Correct answer.
  3. Cuticle
  4. Free edge

Explanation

The lunula is the pale crescent visible at the base of the nail plate, where the matrix tissue shows through. It is most prominent on the thumbs and fades with age. The nail bed lies beneath the plate and the free edge extends past the fingertip.

Question 43Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

Nail plate cells are produced by which structure?

  1. Lateral fold
  2. Hyponychium
  3. Nail bed
  4. Nail matrix Correct answer.

Explanation

New nail cells are manufactured in the matrix, the living tissue at the base of the nail unit. Cells keratinize, flatten and are pushed forward to become the visible plate. The nail bed only supports the plate, and the hyponychium seals the free edge.

Question 44Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

The layer of skin that overlaps the base of the nail plate is the:

  1. Lateral nail fold
  2. Free edge
  3. Lunula
  4. Eponychium Correct answer.

Explanation

The eponychium, commonly called the cuticle, is the living fold of skin that overlaps the base of the nail plate and protects the matrix from debris and bacteria. It should be treated gently because it is a natural barrier. The lunula and free edge are parts of the plate itself.

Question 45Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

Which structure forms a seal between the free edge of the nail plate and the fingertip?

  1. Hyponychium Correct answer.
  2. Proximal nail fold
  3. Lunula
  4. Eponychium

Explanation

The hyponychium is the skin beneath the free edge that attaches to the underside of the plate and closes off the nail bed. This seal helps keep water, dirt and microbes out from under the nail. The eponychium protects the opposite end of the nail unit.

Question 46Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

The pinkish tissue on which the nail plate rests is the:

  1. Nail groove
  2. Nail matrix
  3. Nail bed Correct answer.
  4. Nail root

Explanation

The nail bed is the skin under the plate, running from the lunula to the hyponychium. Its rich blood supply gives the healthy nail its pink color. The matrix is the growth area, and the root is the hidden proximal part of the plate.

Question 47Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

On average, how fast do healthy adult fingernails grow?

  1. About 6 mm per month
  2. About 3 mm per month Correct answer.
  3. About 1 mm per month
  4. About 10 mm per month

Explanation

Fingernails grow roughly 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) per month, so a fingernail takes about four to six months to replace itself. Growth is fastest on the middle finger and slowest on the thumb and little finger. Toenails grow much more slowly, about 1 mm per month.

Question 48Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

Which layer of the skin is the outermost and contains no blood vessels?

  1. Hypodermis
  2. Subcutaneous layer
  3. Dermis
  4. Epidermis Correct answer.

Explanation

The epidermis is the thin outer layer of the skin; it has no blood vessels of its own and is nourished by diffusion from the dermis below. Its outer cells are keratinized and shed continuously. The dermis and subcutaneous tissue lie deeper and do contain vessels.

Question 49Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

The portion of the nail plate that is hidden beneath the proximal nail fold is the:

  1. Hyponychium
  2. Nail root Correct answer.
  3. Lunula
  4. Nail bed

Explanation

The nail root is the proximal part of the plate that sits under the proximal nail fold and is not visible. It is continuous with the matrix, where new cells are formed. The lunula is the visible part of the matrix, and the hyponychium is at the opposite end.

Question 50Nail and Skin Anatomy, Disorders and Diseases

A nail plate that has lifted away from the nail bed, leaving a whitish patch near the free edge, shows:

  1. Paronychia
  2. Koilonychia
  3. Onychorrhexis
  4. Onycholysis Correct answer.

Explanation

Onycholysis is separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, often triggered by trauma, aggressive cleaning under the free edge, or skin disease. The gap traps air and appears white or yellowish. It is not an infection by itself but can allow moisture and microbes into the space.