text: your finger nail is made up of keratin, a protien.  the same as your hair.  it is not bone. it is more a form of harden skin.  it helps protects your finger tips from damage. the matrix of the nail, lies under the skin still, and if that doesn't get damamged then your nails will continue to grow. if you would like to know more than try going to a cosemtolgy/manucurist web site.