Final answer:
Increased curvature of the nails is known as clubbing. Nails are accessory structures of the integumentary system made up of keratin. They provide protection, enhance touch sensitivity and can indicate health conditions based on their appearance.
Step-by-step explanation:
An increased curvature of the nails is known as clubbing.
Nails are accessory structures of the integumentary system. They are composed of a hard, protective protein called keratin. Nails serve various functions which include protecting the distal phalanx, the fingertip, and the surrounding soft tissues from injuries. They also improve fine touch and enhance the precision of finger movements.
The nail consists of several parts: the nail plate, the visible hard part of the nail; the nail bed, the skin beneath the nail plate; and the cuticle, which is the tissue that overlaps the plate and rims the base of the nail. The nail matrix, hidden under the skin at the nail's proximal end, is where the nail is actually formed. Nails grow from the nail matrix.
Most of the nail plate looks pink because of the blood vessels that run underneath. The whitish crescent-shaped area at the base of the nail, known as the lunula, is the visible part of the nail matrix and is less translucent than the rest of the nail.
Nails are related to health in several ways. Changes in nail color, shape, or texture can indicate various health issues. For example, fungal infections can make the nails yellow and brittle. A condition known as clubbing, which is an increased curvature of the nails, may signal underlying cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases.
Clubbing is not related to melanocytes, keratinocytes, epidermocytes, or hirocytes. Nails grow from the proximal end, not from the distal end to the proximal end.