The nail plate grows from the nail root towards which part?

The nail plate grows from the nail root towards the free edge. The nail root, situated beneath the cuticle, is the area where new nail cells are produced. As these cells multiply, they push the older ones forward, resulting in growth that extends toward the free edge, which is the visible part of the nail that extends beyond the fingertip. This understanding of nail anatomy is essential for nail technicians, as it relates to proper nail care, design, and overall maintenance. The other options refer to different parts of the nail; for example, the nail bed is the skin underneath the nail plate, the cuticle is the thin layer of skin that overlaps the base of the nail, and the nail fold surrounds and protects the sides of the nail. Each of these structures plays a role in nail health, but the direction of growth specifically leads to the free edge.