onychocyte
onychocyte
A terminally differentiated, specialized keratinocyte originating primarily from the nail matrix. During onychokeratinization, these cells undergo progressive flattening and produce high levels of hard, disulfide cross-linked keratins (Eckhart et al., 2024) that form the rigid, compact nail plate. Unlike epidermal keratinocytes, onychocytes are firmly integrated into the nail plate and do not desquamate.