Final answer:
The nail bed is the cup- or pocket-like structure where the nail root and nail matrix are located. It is a specialized structure of the epidermis. The nail matrix, located at the proximal end of the nail, surrounds the nail root and is responsible for nail growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cup- or pocket-like structure where the nail root and nail matrix are located is called the nail bed. It is a specialized structure of the epidermis found at the tips of our fingers and toes. The nail matrix, a deep layer of living epidermal tissue at the proximal end of the nail, surrounds the nail root and is responsible for nail growth.