No, I’m not talking about gray gunk. Go clean your nails, what would your mother say if she saw you like that, huh?
I’m talking about this reddish stuff that was exposed by a particularly bad nail-break. Is it merely skin that hasn’t seen the light of day since I was born, or is it some sort of epithelium, or what?
Ow, by the way.
I think that’s called blood 
A quick Google search (“nail injuries”) turns up this , and interesting site on nail health. There are plenty more sites if you want.
The part you’re seeing is the nail bed.
Simple Speaker answer right there.
Ack, the link didn’t work.
Let’s try this again, shall we?
So nice to have a name for that, it makes it so much easier to search :).
According to this site, it is indeed epithelium. Much as I dislike the idea of part of my connective tissue being exposed to the world (or my bandaid, at any rate), at least now I know, and shall be able to sleep at night.
Thanks for the help.
That was the first question I’ve ever answered to the person’s satisfaction 
Thanks!
SftD, you were too quick for me.
Zenster deserves an SDMB merit-badge for the appalling sub[/sub] pun.