• Question: What materials are toenails made of?

    Asked by asiansupreme to Anil, Blanka, Cees, Emma, Mike on 27 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Emma Trantham

      Emma Trantham answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      Toenails (and fingernails) are made of something called keratin. Keratin is a protein that is really tough and the way it is put together in our nails is what makes them hard.

      You probably won’t be surprised to find out that animal claws and horns are made of keratin too. But actually, our hair is also made up of keratin, as is the outer part of our skin. It’s a really useful substance!

    • Photo: Blanka Sengerova

      Blanka Sengerova answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      Yes, and the reason why keratin is used because it forms really strong fibrous protein that is so strong due to its structure. It is effectively made up of three strands of protein (chain of amino acids) of a repetitive sequence. These strands are twisted round each other a bit like threads of rope and linked by forces called hydrogen bonds which make the chains stick together so well.

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