Nails serve several important purposes.

 They help humans function. Nails are basically flat versions

of claws that help humans dig, climb, scratch, grab, and more.
  They guard against injuries. They serve as protective plates
that help prevent the fingers and toes from getting cut or
scraped during daily activities.
 They enhance the sensation. The fingers and toes contain
nerve endings that allow the body to process the volumes of
information that it receives every time something is touched—
and the nail acts as a counterforce, providing even more
sensory input after a person touches something.
Nail Growth
Nails are constantly growing, but their growth rate 
slows down due to poor circulation and aging.
Fingernails grow faster than toenails, at a rate of 3
millimeters per month. It takes six months for a
fingernail to grow from the root to the free edge.
Toenails grow much more slowly, at just 1 millimeter
per month. It takes a toenail 12 to 18 months to grow
from root to tip.
Nail Structure
The nail structure is divided into six parts:
• Nail Root
• Nail bed
• Nail plate
• Cuticle (Eponychium)
• Paronychium
• Hyponychium

Each of these six components has a specific

function, and if a component of the nail
structure is disrupted, the nail can look
abnormal. 
Nail root: The root of the nail
 

is also known as the germinal

matrix. Its edge appears as a white
crescent, known as the lunula. The
root portion of this nail lies below
the skin, underneath the nail, and
extends several millimeters into the
finger. It produces most of the
volume of the nail and the nail bed.
Nail bed: The nail bed is also referred to as the
 

sterile matrix. It extends from the edge of the nail

root, or lunula, to the hyponychium. The nail bed
contains blood vessels, nerves, and melanocytes
 that produce melanin. As the root grows the nail,
the nail streams down along the nail bed and adds
material to the underside of the nail to make it
thicker. When the nail grows properly, the nail bed
is smooth, but if the nail doesn't grow correctly, the
nail may split or develop ridges that aren't
cosmetically attractive.
Nail plate: The nail plate is
the actual fingernail, and it's
made of translucent keratin.
The pinkish appearance of the
nail comes from the blood
vessels that are underneath it.
The underside of the nail plate
has grooves that run along the
length of the nail and help
anchor it to the nail bed.
Eponychium: The eponychiu
 

m is more commonly known as the

cuticle. The cuticle is situated
between the skin of the finger and
the nail plate. It fuses these
structures together and provides a
waterproof barrier.
Perionychium: The  

paronychium is the skin that

overlaps onto the sides of the
nail plate, also known as the
paronychial edge. The
paronychium is the site of
hangnails, ingrown nails, and 
paronychia, a skin infection.
Hyponychium: The
hyponychium is the area
between the free edge of
the nail plate and the skin of the
fingertip. It also provides a
waterproof barrier.