Fingernail. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a delaminated section of fingernail. The flattened structures are dead keratinised epithelial cells produced by the mitotic epithelium of the nailbed. The dead cells are linked firmly together by keratin attachments forming a hard protective layer. It takes about six months for a fingernail to grow from base to tip. A similar process occurs in the growth of a hair from its follicle. Magnification: x315 at 6x7cm, x220 at 6x4.5cm size. x740 at 8x6inch size. x395 at 10x7cm master size