Toenails

Looks like

Hard keratin plates on the tops of the toes, thicker and slower-growing than fingernails.

What it does

Protect the tips of the toes.

Keeping it well

Cut them straight across to avoid ingrown nails. Thick, yellow, crumbly nails are usually fungus; in diabetes any nail wound needs prompt care.

Related conditions

• Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Clubfoot (talipes equinovarus)
• Flat feet (pes planus)
• Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis)
• Ganglion cyst
• Gout
• Hammer toe and claw toe
• Ingrown toenail
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Morton's neuroma
• Restless legs syndrome
• Varicose veins
• Venomous snakebite