CALCIUM AND SULFUR LOCATION IN HUMAN NAIL

[摘要] Analytical EM was performed in order to elucidate the importance of Ca and S to the hardness of nails. The free surfaces adsorb a considerable quantity of Ca from the environment. Such adsorption may occur due to ion exchange. This concept is supported by the fact that the distribution of S does not vary over the nail cross-section. Analytical EM offers unique possibilities of elemental distribution analysis in tissue fragments or sections from keratinized tissues.