Which term describes the most visible portion of the nail?

The nail plate is the most visible portion of the nail. It is the hard, protective part of the nail that covers the underlying nail bed and extends from the nail root to the free edge at the end of the fingertip. The nail plate is composed of layers of a protein called keratin, which gives it its structure and resilience.

The eponychium, often confused with the nail plate, is actually the tissue that overlaps the nail plate at the base of the nail, serving as a barrier to protect the matrix underneath. While nail color refers to the pigmentation visible in the nail plate, it does not define the structure itself. The matrix, on the other hand, is located beneath the cuticle and is responsible for producing new nail cells, allowing for nail growth. While all these components are essential to the structure and health of the nail, the nail plate is the main visible part that people commonly see and recognize as the nail.