Which part of the nail unit lies directly beneath the nail plate and contains many blood vessels?

• A. Nail plate
• B. Nail bed
• C. Nail root
• D. Lunula

Answer: (B)

Nail bed anatomy and blood supply. The nail bed lies directly beneath the nail plate and is rich in blood vessels, which nourish the growing nail and give it its healthy pink color. The nail plate is the hard keratin layer on top, while the nail root is the hidden portion where growth begins. The lunula is the pale crescent at the base that marks the visible part of the matrix under the plate. Because the nail bed is highly vascular, it is the part beneath the plate that contains many blood vessels.