Ch. 10 - Nail Disorders & Diseases

Question 1

Beau’s lines

BowZ lYNeZ

Answer 1

Sometimes called furrows (FUR-ohs) or corrugations (kor-uh-GAY-shuns); visible depressions running across the width of the natural nail plate; usually a result of major illness or injury that has traumatized the body.

Question 2

blue fingernails

Answer 2

named for the nail bed color; is usually caused by a lack of circulating oxygen in the red blood cells.

Question 3

bruised nail bed

Answer 3

Condition in which a blood clot forms under the nail plate, causing a dark purplish spot. These discolorations are usually due to small injuries to the nail bed.

Question 4

discolored nails

Answer 4

nails turn a variety of colors; may indicate surface staining, a systemic disorder, or poor blood circulation.

Question 5

eggshell nails

Answer 5

noticeably thin, white nail plates that are more flexible than normal and can curve over the free edge.

Question 6

hangnail

Answer 6

A condition in which the living tissue surrounding the nail plate splits or tears.

Question 7

koilonychia

koyal-oh-NICK-ee-uh

Answer 7

Soft spoon nails with a concave shape that appear scooped out.

Question 8

leukonychia spots

loo-koh-NIK-ee-ah sPATs

Answer 8

Also known as white spots; whitish discolorations of the nails, usually caused by injury to the matrix area; not related to the body’s health or vitamin deficiencies.

Question 9

melanonychia

mel-uh-nuh-NIK-ee-uh

Answer 9

Darkening of the fingernails or toenails; may be seen as a black band within the nail plate, extending from the base to the free edge.

Question 10

nail disorder

Answer 10

Condition caused by an injury or disease of the nail unit.

Question 11

nail psoriasis

NAYl suh-RY-uh-sis

Answer 11

A noninfectious condition that affects the surface of the natural nail plate causing tiny pits or severe roughness on the surface of the nail plate.

Question 12

nail pterygium

NAYl teh-RIJ-ee-um

Answer 12

Abnormal condition that occurs when the skin is stretched by the nail plate; usually caused by serious injury, such as burns, or an adverse skin reaction to chemical nail enhancement products.

Question 13

onychauxis

ahn-ih-KAhK-sis

Answer 13

Thickening of nails.

Question 14

onychia

uh-NIK-ee-uh

Answer 14

Inflammation of the nail matrix followed by shedding of the natural nail.

Question 15

onychocryptosis

ahn-ih-koh-krip-Toh-sis

Answer 15

Also known as ingrown nails; nail grows into the sides of the tissue around the nail.

Question 16

onychogryposis

ahn-ih-koh-gry-Poh-sis

Answer 16

Also known as ram’s horn or claw nails; an enlargement of the fingernails or toenails accompanied by increased thickening and curvature.

Question 17

onycholysis

ahn-ih-KAhl-ih-sis

Answer 17

Lifting of the nail plate from the nail bed without shedding, usually beginning at the free edge and continuing toward the lunula area.

Question 18

onychomadesis

ahn-ih-koh-muh-Dee-sis

Answer 18

The separation and falling off of a nail plate from the nail bed; affects fingernails and toenails.

Question 19

onychomycosis

ahn-ih-koh-my-Koh-sis

Answer 19

Fungal infection of the natural nail plate.

Question 20

onychophagy

ahn-ih-koh-FAY-jee

Answer 20

Also known as bitten nails; result of a habit of chewing the nail or chewing the hardened skin surrounding the nail plate.

Question 21

onychorrhexis

ahn-ih-koh-ReK-sis

Answer 21

Split or brittle nails that have a series of lengthwise ridges giving a rough appearance to the surface of the nail plate.

Question 22

onychosis

ahn-ih-Koh-sis

Answer 22

Any deformity or disease of the natural nails.

Question 23

paronychia

payr-uh-NIK-ee-uh

Answer 23

Bacterial inflammation of the tissues surrounding the nail. Redness, pus, and swelling are usually seen in the skin fold adjacent to the nail plate.

Question 24

pincer nail

PIN-sir NAYl

Answer 24

Also known as trumpet nail; increased crosswise curvature throughout the nail plate caused by an increased curvature of the matrix. The edges of the nail plate may curl around to form the shape of a trumpet or sharp cone at the free edge.

Question 25

plicatured nail

plik-a-ChooRD NAYl

Answer 25

Also known as folded nail; a type of highly curved nail usually caused by injury to the matrix, but may be inherited.

Question 26

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

sue-duh-MoAN-us aye-ru-jin-oh-sa

Answer 26

Common bacteria that can lead to a bacterial infection that appears as a green, yellow, or black discoloration on the nail bed.

Question 27

pyogenic granuloma

py-oh-JeN-ik gran-yoo-loh-muh

Answer 27

Severe inflammation of the nail in which a lump of red tissue grows up from the nail bed to the nail plate.

Question 28

ridges

Answer 28

Vertical lines running through the length of the natural nail plate that are caused by uneven growth of the nails, usually the result of normal aging.

Question 29

splinter hemorrhage

sPlIN-tohr heM-err-aje

Answer 29

Hemorrhage caused by trauma or injury to the nail bed that damages the capillaries and allow small amounts of blood flow.

Question 30

tinea pedis

TIN-ee-uh PeD-us

Answer 30

Also known as athlete’s foot; medical term for fungal infections of the feet; red, itchy rash of the skin on the bottom of the feet and/or in between the toes, usually found between the fourth and fifth toe.