Final answer:
Podiatrists specialize in the foot, ankle, and lower extremity, not the hands, which makes the initial statement false. They are involved in podiatry, which deals with these parts of the body. Nails are made mainly of keratin, and the extra layer of epidermis on the palms and soles is beneath the outer surface, not on it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that podiatrists specialize in treating conditions of the hands is false. Podiatrists are healthcare professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. The specialty that might focus on studying all of the structures of the ankle and foot is indeed podiatry. Physicians usually insist that patients remove any nail polish before surgery to allow for the unobstructed observation of the natural nail and nail bed, which can provide vital clues about a patient's circulation and oxygenation during a procedure. As for the cells located in the epidermis, Langerhans cells are indeed immune cells found within this skin layer. Fingerprints are created by the epidermal ridges on the surface of the skin. The brain receives touch information from the skin through a complex system involving sensory neurons, nerve pathways, and processing centers within the brain.
Regarding the nail bed, it refers not to the middle portion, but to the skin beneath the hard nail plate. The correct answer to what nails are composed mainly of is keratin, which is a tough protein that is also found in hair and skin. The extra layer of epidermis on the palms and soles is known as the stratum lucidum and is not on the very outer surface of the skin; it is located beneath the outer layer, known as the stratum corneum. Therefore, the statement in question 25 is false.