Chapter 6 nail disorders and diseases glossary Flashcards
Beau’s lines
depressions running across the nail plate’s width due to a slowing production of matrix cells
bruised nail bed
dark purplish spots, usually due to a small nail bed injury
discolored nail
nail that has turned a variety of colors; may indicate surface staining, a systemic disorder, or poor blood circulation
eggshell nail
noticeably thin, white nail plate that is more flexible than usual; usually caused by diet, heredity, internal disease, medication, or overfiling with an abrasive
hangnail
damaged skin around the nail plate (often on the eponychium) becomes split or torn
infected finger
finger with visible redness, pain, swelling, broken skin, or pus
luekonychia
whitish discoloration found inside the nail plate, usually caused by injury to the nail matrix
melanonychia
significant darkening of the fingernails or toenails caused by increased pigment cells (melanocytes); may be seen as a black band under or within the nail plate, extending from the base to the free edge
nail disorder
an unhealthy nail condition that is hereditary or caused by injury or disease of the nail unit
nail melanoma
aka subungual melanoma; a rare and serious type of skin cancer that begins in the nail matrix. It is more prevalent in the nails of your thumbs and big toes and usually affects one nail at a time. Sometimes it can look like other conditions that affect the nail bed, such as a bruise. If untreated it can metastasize or spread to other parts of your body
nail psoriasis
nail surface pitting, roughness, onycholysis, and bed discolorations randomly or evenly spaced; nail plate may appear as if it has been filled with a coarse abrasive, or the free edge may be ragged, or both
nail pterygium
irregular stretching of the eponychium or hyponychium around the nail plate; usually from serious injury of an allergic skin reaction
onychia
inflammation of the nail matrix followed by shedding of the natural nail caused by infection or injury
onychocryptosis
aka ingrown nail; nail grows into the living tissue around the nail
onycholysis
separation of the nail plate and bed, often due to injury or allergic reactions
onychomadesis
separation and falling off a nail plate from the nail bed; caused by infection, matrix injury, systemic illness, or medical procedure
onychomycosis
nail plate fungal infection, consisting of whitish patches that can be scraped off the nail’s surface or long whitish or pale yellowish streaks within the nail plate
onychophagy
aka bitten nails; result of a habit of chewing the nail or chewing the hardened skin surrounding the nail plate
onychorrhexis
irregular split or brittle nails appearing as nail plate surface roughness; potentially caused by heredity, matrix injury, excessive exposure to cuticle removers, harsh cleaning agents, or aggressive filing techniques
onychosis
any deformity or disease of the natural nails
paronychia
bacterial inflammation of the tissues surrounding the nail; redness, pus, and swelling are usually present
pincer nail
aka trumpet nail; a form of dramatically increased nail curvature of the free edge, whereby the nail can curl in upon itself or may be deformed only on one sidewall
plicatured nail
aka folded nail; a type of highly curved nail plate usually caused by injury to the matrix, but may be inherited
pseudomonas aeruginosa
rapidly growing and contagious bacteria that can cause infection; seen in the early stages as a yellow-green spot that becomes darker in its advanced stage, changing from yellow to green to brown to black
pyogenic granuloma
severe inflammation of the nail in which a lump of red tissue grows up from the nail bed to the nail plate
ridged nail
vertical lines running the length of the natural nail plate, usually the result of aging
splinter hemorrhage
damage to the capillaries under the nail, giving the appearance of a lengthwise small splinter underneath the nail plate; caused by physical trauma or nail bed injury
tinea pedis
aka athlete’s foot; medical term for fungal infection of the feet; often seen as red patches or scaling of the skin on the bottom of feet and/or between the toes
