keratin- +

Hard keratin present in hair, wool, horn, nails, etc.

The excessive development or retention of keratin by the epidermis.

Any of a family of scleroproteins that form the primary constituents of epidermis, hair, nails, and horny tissues.

Included are the cytokeratins of epithelial tissue and the hard keratins of ectodermally derived structures; such as, hair and nails.

Because it is insoluble in gastric juice, keratin is sometimes used to coat pills designed to dissolve in the intestine.

Leather is almost pure keratin.

1. The development of or conversion into keratin; as in the development of a horny layer of tissue.
2. A process occurring in vertebrate epidermis and epidermal structures in which keratin replaces the cytoplasm of a cell.

An example of keratinization is the cornified outer layer of the epidermis of the skin that consists of dead horny cells.

Hairs and finger-toe nails also consist of keratinized cells.

To make, or to become, keratinous; to turn into horny tissue.

1. Resembling keratin.
2. A pill or tablet having keratin as an enteric coating.

One kind of fungus that grows on the protein of the hair and nails: A keratinophile can thrive on a person's toenails, for example.

Regarding the ability to grow on keratin: A keratinophilic fungus uses the protein of hair and nails to thrive on.

Denoting fungi that use keratin as a substrata: After reading about keratinophily, Max learned that a parasite, a fungus, like a dermatophyte, infects especially an individual's fingernails or toenails.

1. Containing keratin or of the nature of keratin; also called keratic.
2. Horny.