nail
Enable an AI agent to recognise a biological nail, record its visible condition and attachment, and judge whether observation, grooming, protection or further assessment is appropriate.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an AI agent to recognise a biological nail, record its visible condition and attachment, and judge whether observation, grooming, protection or further assessment is appropriate.
It can be Identify and photograph a particular nail using consistent anatomical labels and viewpoints.; Measure visible plate and free-edge dimensions using recorded landmarks.; Compare attachment, surface, colour and growth observations across dated assessments.; Assess whether an exposed edge is suitable for trimming or filing within the actor's competence.; Record or arrange protection from snagging, pressure or further exposure.; Defer manipulation and request qualified assessment when the observed condition or uncertainty warrants it..
Distinguishing features
Check that the referent is a biological plate associated with a digit, rather than a manufactured fastening pin.
Locate a plate seated over a nail bed with proximal and lateral tissue boundaries; a loose hard fragment alone does not establish an intact nail.
Distinguish the biological plate from polish, gel or an artificial extension by recording visible boundaries and application history.
Distinguish the nail plate from adjacent callused skin by its discrete plate boundary and attachment over the nail bed.
Use organism identity and anatomical context when distinguishing a nail from a claw or hoof; shape alone may leave the identification unresolved.
Scope
+ Identification of the digit, body side and organism bearing the nail
+ Nail plate shape, dimensions, surface and visible colour
+ Plate attachment and boundaries with the nail bed, folds and free edge
+ Observed growth, wear, breakage and changes over time
+ Nail-specific exposure, grooming, coverings and intervention constraints
- Metal nails and other construction fasteners
- The anatomy and function of the whole finger, toe, hand or foot
- Systemic diseases and their diagnosis or treatment
- Independent models of surrounding skin, wounds or infections
- Artificial nail products, cosmetic formulations and grooming instruments
- Claws, hooves and other related structures pending confirmation of registry scope
Characteristics
- Anatomical identity
- Organism reference, hand or foot, left or right, digit identifier; unknown permitted Prevents observations and actions from being assigned to the wrong nail.
- Plate dimensions
- Length, width and thickness in mm, with landmarks and method Supports comparisons of growth, wear and shape without confusing different measurement conventions.
- Free-edge length
- mm beyond the observed distal attachment boundary; unassessable permitted Helps assess snagging and the extent of an edge available for grooming.
- Plate curvature and outline
- Described longitudinal curvature, transverse curvature and edge outline Records how the plate fits the digit and whether its edges contact surrounding tissue.
- Visible colour and opacity
- Colour, translucency, distribution and observation conditions Makes changes traceable while distinguishing appearance from an inferred cause.
- Surface and structural integrity
- Observed ridges, pits, splits, peeling, breaks or material loss, with location and extent Identifies fragile or catching areas and supports repeat observation.
- Attachment condition
- Apparently attached, partly separated, detached or unassessable, with mapped extent Constrains handling and distinguishes plate damage from loss of attachment.
- Local symptoms
- Reported pain, tenderness or altered sensation; severity, timing and unknown status Adds information that appearance alone cannot establish when considering an action.
- Observed growth
- Landmark displacement in mm over a recorded interval; optionally mm/day Supports longitudinal assessment without assuming a universal growth rate.
- Applied covering
- Reference to polish, gel, artificial extension, dressing or other covering; none or unknown Identifies obscured observations and constraints on access to the biological plate.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.nail-quantity
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Nail identity and boundaries Establish which biological nail is represented and which visible material belongs to it.
Digit identity and the distinction between plate, supporting tissue and applied material determine what subsequent observations mean.
Digit and organism
Locate the nail on its bearer and resolve the intended biological referent.
Anatomical nail identity
Record the bearer, body side and digit, including unresolved identification.
- Which organism, hand or foot, body side and digit bear this nail? definition
- What observation or record supports identifying this structure as a nail rather than a claw, hoof or detached fragment? provenance
Plate and covering boundaries
Separate biological plate from adjacent tissue and applied products.
Observable nail boundary
Locate visible plate margins and identify areas whose material or boundary cannot be assessed.
- Where are the proximal margin, lateral margins and distal free edge visible? boundary
- Which areas are biological plate, applied covering or unresolved material, and what evidence supports that distinction? definition
Plate form and integrity Describe the nail plate's geometry, appearance and physical continuity.
A nail's edge geometry and local defects affect contact, snagging and the interpretation of visible changes.
Plate and edge geometry
Measure the plate and describe its curvature relative to the digit.
Nail shape and dimensions
Record dimensions with explicit landmarks and describe the edge profile.
- What are the visible plate length, width and free-edge length, and which landmarks and method were used? measurement
- How do the plate curvature and lateral edges relate to the surrounding tissue, including any visible contact or overlap? boundary
Surface and breaks
Map visible appearance and disruptions without assigning an unverified cause.
Localized plate observations
Record the location and extent of colour differences, surface features and discontinuities.
- Where are colour changes, opacity differences, ridges or pits visible, and under what lighting or covering conditions? measurement
- Are splits, peeling, breaks or missing areas present, and do they reach the attached portion of the plate? boundary
Attachment and local condition Assess the plate's connection to its supporting tissues and record associated symptoms.
An intact-looking plate may still have attachment problems or local symptoms that change what handling is appropriate.
Bed and fold interface
Describe visible attachment and the interfaces with surrounding folds.
Attachment and margin condition
Map apparent separation and visible changes at the plate's tissue boundaries.
- Which areas appear attached or separated from the nail bed, and how much of the plate can actually be assessed? measurement
- At which margins are swelling, broken skin, bleeding or discharge observed, and which observations belong to a linked skin or wound record? boundary
Symptoms and use
Connect the nail's condition to reported discomfort and interference with activities.
Nail-associated discomfort
Record symptoms and activity limitations separately from visual findings.
- What pain, tenderness or altered sensation is reported, by whom, and when did it begin? provenance
- Does the nail catch, press against footwear or interfere with touch or grasping, and during which activities? measurement
Growth history and care decisions Track change and establish the basis for observation, grooming, protection or assessment.
Nail appearance reflects a changing structure whose interpretation depends on dated observations, prior care and exposure.
Growth and exposure history
Relate repeat observations to growth, trimming, injury and applied products.
Dated nail change
Establish what changed and whether observations are comparable.
- Between dated observations, how far did a recognisable plate landmark move, and were viewpoint and scale comparable? measurement
- What trimming, filing, injury, repetitive pressure or product application occurred between those observations? provenance
Nail-specific action constraints
Connect proposed handling to accessible edges, tissue condition and unresolved concerns.
Justified next action
Record the proposed action, its basis and the limits of available assessment.
- For proposed trimming, filing or protection, which edge or area is involved, and what observations establish that it can be handled appropriately? action
- Do pain, disrupted attachment, obscured boundaries or other unresolved observations require deferring manipulation and obtaining qualified assessment? action
What the second pass must settle
- Does registry entry vr.tr.nail-q37077 explicitly mean human fingernails and toenails, or does it include nails of other organisms?
- Does the catalogue already contain a world model that owns this concept or the broader nail apparatus?
- Should the nail matrix, bed and folds be owned by this model or represented through relationships to neighbouring anatomical models?
- Which measurement landmarks and observation methods provide sufficiently repeatable nail dimensions and growth comparisons?
- Which evidence-based criteria should govern routine grooming, deferred manipulation and referral across different bearers and care settings?