• Question: where does your toe nail form?

    Asked by chloetaylorx to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 16 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by maevelewisxo.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      Hi @chloetaylorx and @maevelewisxo
      Your toe nail forms in a wide flat hole under your skin, which is called the nail sinus. The nail has a root which is secured in this slot, and the nail grows out of that. The nail grows from this end, you can tell because if you paint your toe nails, the nail polish moves out towards the end of your toe if you leave it on there for weeks. Also if you injure your toe nail, the injury will grow out like this.

      Also, you have your finger and toe nails before you are born!!

      Hope this answers your question 🙂

    • Photo: Damien Hall

      Damien Hall answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Nails grow from the inside – the pinkish semicircle at the base of the nail is the new part. Then it pushes up and up, towards the end of your toe, until finally it pushes off the end, and that bit goes white and is completely dead. That’s why you can cut it off without it hurting. It works the same way for fingernails as well!

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