No, the nail plate itself—the visible part of the nail—does not contain veins or blood vessels. The nail plate is strongly attached to the nail bed, but it's avascular, meaning it lacks its own blood supply. [^1] However, the nail bed, located beneath the nail plate, does contain nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. [^1] Cutting into this area during a manicure or when trimming a pet's nails will cause bleeding and pain. [^5, ^6] Splinter hemorrhages, which are small blood streaks under the nail, occur when blood vessels under the nail bed are damaged. [^4]
Understanding Nail Anatomy
It's crucial to differentiate between the nail plate and the underlying nail bed. The nail plate is the hard, keratinized structure we see. The nail bed, on the other hand, is the living tissue beneath the nail plate. The blood vessels are found within the nail bed and matrix (the area where nail growth originates).
- Nail Plate: Avascular; no veins or blood vessels.
- Nail Bed: Contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels.
- Nail Matrix: The actively growing part of the nail located beneath the nail and contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. [^1]
While there's anecdotal evidence suggesting veins might extend into long fingernails, there's a lack of definitive research on the topic. [^2] The presence of blood vessels is primarily confined to the underlying tissues, not the nail plate itself. The appearance of veins in long nails might be related to the increased visibility of the underlying nail bed through a thinner nail plate, or the underlying blood vessels themselves.
[^1]: The nail matrix is also known as the matrix unguis, keratogenous membrane, or onychostroma. It is the part of the nail bed that is beneath the nail and contains nerves, lymph and blood vessels.
[^2]: Do veins grow inside long finger nails? - Quora
[^4]: Splinter Hemorrhages: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments
[^5]: The Blood Supply in the Canine Nail and Proper Nail Trimming
[^6]: Cat Nail Trimming 101 | Wisconsin Humane Society
