Anatomy
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What Is the Hyponychium?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

The hyponychium is a bed of soft tissue that lies just under the free portion of the nail at the end of the finger. It forms an interface with the rest of the nail bed and acts as a barrier to reduce the risk of infection. This component of the nail anatomy is sometimes known as the quick; the saying “cut me to the quick” references the sharp pain people can experience when the hyponychium is cut or disturbed. This tissue is very sensitive to injury.

Nailbeds can provide a potential avenue for infection, allowing pathogens to penetrate and spread into the finger. The hyponychium works as a seal to keep water and particulate materials out of the nail bed, while the surface nail and cuticle cover it to offer protection from above. This tissue is rich in white blood cells to provide an immune boost. If infectious organisms do stray onto the quick, the white blood cells quickly attack them before they have an opportunity to start growing and spreading.

Cutting a cat or dog's nails too close can injure the hyponychium.
Cutting a cat or dog's nails too close can injure the hyponychium.

With very short nails, it can be possible to see the hyponychium, a thin band of tissue that tends to be paler than the rest of the skin around the nail. Cutting nails back too far can cut back into the hyponychium. This may cause excessive bleeding due to the rich vascularization of the nailbed, and it can also be extremely painful, as the tissue is so sensitive. Nail cracking and splitting can also irritate this structure by pulling at it and exposing it to the elements.

The hyponychium is very sensitive to injury.
The hyponychium is very sensitive to injury.

Disorders of the hyponychium can include infections, skin irritation caused by problems with the nail, and direct injuries like cuts and compression injuries. A dermatologist can evaluate the affected finger to determine the nature of the problem and develop a treatment plan for the patient. Treatments may involve gentle flushing with fluids to clean the site, medications, and bandaging to protect the hyponychium from jarring and jostling, with the goal of minimizing pain for the patient.

This structure can be seen in other animals with nails, such as cats and dogs. Pet owners who trim the claws of their companion animals may notice that clipping too short can elicit a yelp of pain and irritation, and the animal may bleed profusely. Medications like styptic pencils are available to quickly apply to the tip of the nail to seal the injury and stop the bleeding. These can be useful to keep in close proximity during a grooming session in case of an accident.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

pleonasm

@irontoenail - Wow, I didn't realize they did so much stuff. I just never really thought about it, I guess. It kind of makes it even worse when people bite their nails too much. I've got a friend who bites his almost down to the quick (the hyponychium, I guess) and he does sometimes make it bleed. I wonder if he would have less sensitive fingertips as a result.

I guess it's just something some people have to live with. Nail biting seems to be pretty common, actually.

irontoenail

@KoiwiGal - Well, nails are still pretty useful for humans, even if they can't really be used as claws anymore (although I could make a joke about cat fights here.)

People use nails when they need to grip something that's very small, like a splinter. Nails are much better at picking apart delicate things like knots and they can put pressure around something in a way that a finger by itself can't.

They also protect the end of the finger, which is a very delicate place and needs protection that isn't going to hamper it in movement or sensitivity.

Finally, they add a kind of counter pressure to the fingertips, so that they are more sensitive than they would be if the whole finger was just skin. Fingers are kind of squishy. If the whole thing was squishy, they would move out of the way when you pressed them against something and you'd have to press harder than you do at the moment.

KoiwiGal

I guess this is why people used to be tortured with splinters under the fingernails. It kind of makes me shudder to even think about it. I've always wondered why people even have nails like that.

It seems like quite a weak spot. Are they just left over from when we had claws? Because even in pets, claws are sometimes considered a leftover. I know my mother's cat had to have one of her claws removed because it kept getting infected.

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    • Cutting a cat or dog's nails too close can injure the hyponychium.
      By: jagodka
      Cutting a cat or dog's nails too close can injure the hyponychium.
    • The hyponychium is very sensitive to injury.
      By: Monika Wisniewska
      The hyponychium is very sensitive to injury.