What is the pocket-like structure that holds the root and matrix of the nail?

• A. Mantle
• B. Lunula
• C. Nail Bed
• D. Cuticle

Answer: (A)

Understanding nail structure, the pocket around the base where the root and matrix live is formed by the mantle. This fold of skin encircles the root and matrix, creating a protective pocket that houses the growing tissue and helps anchor the nail as it forms. The visible pale area at the base, the lunula, is simply the portion of the matrix that shows through. The nail bed is the tissue underneath the nail plate, not the pocket for the root and matrix, and the cuticle is the skin at the base overlapping the nail plate, not the enclosing pocket.