skip to content skip to search skip to navigation Listen Live skip to logon

Why do we have fingernails?

finger-nails.jpgQuestion

My son just asked me this: why do we have finger-nails and toe-nails? What are they for?
Karen, Woking

Answer

** Definitive **
Name: Andrew, Leytonstone
Qualification: Bachelors Degree in biology
Answer: The hands are appendages of sensitivity and there are a lot of nerves along the fingers. The fingernails are to protect the sensitive nerve endings in the ends of the fingers. It also allows you to scratch without damaging your fingers. It’s all from evolution.

In this Section