Final answer:
The Latin/medical term for nails is 'unguis'. Nails are composed of keratin and are part of the integumentary system, serving to protect the fingertips, enhance sensation, and function as tools.
Step-by-step explanation:
The latin term for nails is Unguis. Nails are accessory structures of the integumentary system, specifically they are made of sheets of dead keratinocytes at the distal ends of the fingers and toes. The nail plate (or body) is the visible part of the nail that is external to the skin.
The Latin/medical term for nails is unguis, referring to the hard keratinous structures at the end of our digits. Nails are accessory structures of the integumentary system, comprising of several parts such as the nail root, nail body (or nail plate), nail fold, nail bed, and the eponychium (commonly known as the cuticle).
Nails serve various functions including protecting the distal phalanges, enhancing tactile sensation, and aiding in the manipulation of small objects. Keratinocytes, cells that produce keratin, make up the nail and are responsible for its hard but flexible property. The nail matrix, a layer of living epidermal tissue, is where nails grow from, surrounding the nail root and producing new keratinocytes for the existing nail body.