Illinois Nail Technician Practice Exam

Which type of structure are nails most similar to?

1. Teeth

2. Hoof

3. Claws in other animals

4. Hair follicles

The correct answer is: Claws in other animals

Nails are most similar to claws in other animals because both structures are composed of a hard protein called keratin. This similarity extends beyond just the composition; both nails and claws serve similar protective and functional purposes for the respective species. For example, they provide a means for gripping, scratching, or digging. Claws have a more pronounced curvature and additional adaptations for predation or defense in animals, while nails in humans serve a more refined function related to grooming and protection of the fingertip. Teeth, though also a hard structure, are primarily focused on the function of chewing and are composed of different materials, including enamel and dentin, which do not have the same keratinous composition as nails or claws. Hooves, while also related to keratin, function in a very different way, primarily providing support and weight distribution in larger animals. Hair follicles produce hair, which is also keratinous but serves vastly different biological functions compared to nails and claws. Thus, nails share the most direct structural and functional similarities with claws found in other animals.