Final answer:
Nails are composed of a protein called keratin, and this provides them with their hard protective qualities. The nail grows from the proximal end and serves to protect the fingertips and enhance the sense of touch. The correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nails are composed mainly of a protein called keratin. This is the correct answer to the question regarding the composition of nails, which is option C.
Keratin is a tough protein that makes up not only nails but also hair. It is responsible for the hard and protective nature of the nail plate.
The nail bed is the portion of skin upon which the nail plate sits. However, the statement that the nail bed refers to the middle portion of the hard nail plate is False.
In contrast, nails grow out from beneath the proximal end, or base, at the cuticle, not from the distal end as might be stated otherwise.
Nails serve several functions including protecting the fingertip, enhancing the sense of touch, and sometimes reflecting the health of an individual.
Changes in nail color, strength, or growth patterns can sometimes indicate underlying health conditions. The correct option is C.