Final answer:
The claim that the area from the nail root to the free edge contains no blood vessels or nerves is false; the nail bed does have blood vessels and nerves, while the nail plate does not. Nails are primarily made of keratin, a protein that also forms hair and skin. Hygiene concerns, such as the accuracy of pulse oximetry, are reasons why physicians require patients to remove nail polish before surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the area from the nail root to the free edge contains no blood vessels or nerves is false. The nail bed, which underlies the nail plate, is actually rich in blood vessels, giving it a pink appearance, and it does contain nerves. It is true that the nail plate itself, which is composed of tightly packed, dense keratinocytes, is devoid of blood vessels and nerves. The whitish crescent-shaped area at the base of your nails is known as the lunula and the tip of the nail far from the nail growth center is called the hyponychium.
Nails are mainly composed of the protein keratin, which is also found in the skin and hair. This protein is responsible for the hardness and resilience of the nail. The pediatric part of the nail where the growth occurs is called the nail matrix, and it's found at the base of the nail, underneath the skin.
It's essential for physicians to insist that patients remove any nail polish before surgery due to the necessity of monitoring the patient's blood oxygen saturation during the procedure. Nail polish can interfere with the pulse oximetry readings, which are critical to ensuring the patient's safety under anesthesia.
Langerhans cells are indeed immune cells located in the epidermis, playing a role in the body's defense mechanism. Fingerprints are formed by the ridges and patterns on the surface of the epidermis providing unique identification for individuals.
The brain receives touch information from the skin through a complex process involving sensory receptors that detect touch stimuli. These receptors transmit signals through the nervous system to the brain, where they are interpreted as touch.