I’ve read stories on how explorers and scientists find mummys
with long nails. Does this mean they still grow?
No.
Then What Really happens?
My WAG is that when the flehy parts of the fingers dry up they shrink, which makes it look like the nails have grown.
Or, the writers of the stories thought it would be more interesting to work in an old folklorish detail.
SD Staff report Do hair and nails continue to grow after death?
Welcome to the boards Pixiestix.
Might I suggest preforming searches first thru the SD staff reports where Lsura pointed to a nice answer to your question.
Or use the search feature, where you will find this:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59027&highlight=fingernails+death
Where stupendous man answers the question.
Or here
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48322&highlight=fingernails+death
Once again Stup answers the question
Stu fell asleep at the wheel and missed answering the same question Here:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10042&highlight=fingernails+death
Here again Stu missed out, yet Kamandi saves the day
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=124972&highlight=fingernails+death
welcome to the boards, now that the hampsters are happy search functions are your friend