focus -WSS

focus

author：explore 2025-09-03 11:42:28 - browse：855

Fingernails sometimes fall off when they’re damaged — like if they get stuck in a car door.

That has to do with what’s known as the matrix, the spot at the bottom of your nail that’s responsible for growing your nail. Nails themselves are actually little plates of proteins called keratin. All of those proteins are connected, which is what makes one continuous nail.

When your finger experiences a shock, like getting stuck in a car door, the matrix temporarily pauses the growth of the fingernail. That pause means the proteins are no longer connected. So the new part of the nail that starts growing isn’t connected to the old part that you could already see — which is why your fingernail falls off.

We investigate the strange science of fingernails in the latest episode of our video series “Boddities.”

Newsletters

Sign up for Morning Rounds

Your daily dose of news in health and medicine.

Please enter a valid email address. Privacy Policy

Related: Watch: Episode 12: What would happen to your eyes if you looked at the solar eclipse?

Related: Watch: Episode 11: Why do bug bites cause bumps on the skin?

Related: Watch: Episode 10: What happens when skin gets sunburned?

Related: Watch: Episode 9: Why can’t teeth heal themselves?

Related: Episode 8: What makes metabolism fast?

Previous article： Psychedelics group wrestles with new pharma identity
Next article： Can U.S. cancer drug shortages be fixed?

WSS

What happened to the House vote on health price transparency?

House panel takes first step toward fixing drug shortages

Transgender sports debate: Physicians say bans are health issue

DeSantis wants to import drugs. Biden’s FDA blasted his plan

Eli Lilly CEO gives to Mike Pence presidential super PAC

Eli Lilly CEO gives to Mike Pence presidential super PAC

focus

focus

Sign up for Morning Rounds

Related: Watch: Episode 12: What would happen to your eyes if you looked at the solar eclipse?

Related: Watch: Episode 11: Why do bug bites cause bumps on the skin?

Related: Watch: Episode 10: What happens when skin gets sunburned?

Related: Watch: Episode 9: Why can’t teeth heal themselves?

Related: Episode 8: What makes metabolism fast?

knowledge

Dobbs anniversary: the lost opportunity of abortion as health care

Can U.S. cancer drug shortages be fixed?

Medical records are filled with copy

What happened to the House vote on health price transparency?

In age of alternative facts, a scholarly course on calling out crap

California store owner shot dead in dispute over displaying Pride flag: Police

Sports medicine is finally prioritizing gender equality

PBMs are inflating the cost of generic drugs. They must be reined in

Malaria cases in Florida and Texas: Here’s what you need to know

Meadows told special counsel he could not recall Trump ever declassifying Mar

Wikipedia

As obesity drug market grows, telehealth companies court payers

Meadows told special counsel he could not recall Trump ever declassifying Mar

Eli Lilly CEO gives to Mike Pence presidential super PAC

Why the drug industry's warnings on the IRA's impact fall short

Can U.S. cancer drug shortages be fixed?

Intellia plays down concerns on accidental germline transmission

Wikipedia

focus

knowledge

Wikipedia