Natural Nail Unit
nonliving colorless tissue between the nail plate and the nail bed
what is the cuticle
thin layer of tissue between the nail plate and the nail bed
what is the bed epithelium
matrix inflammation and nail shedding caused by infection or injury
what is onychia
lengthwise grooves in the plate; usually the result of aging
what is ridged nails
damage to the capillaries under the nail, giving the appearance of a lengthwise small splinter underneath the nail plate
aka the sidewall; folds of the skin that line the sides of the nail plate
what is the lateral nail fold
slit or furrow in the sides of the nail
what is the nail groove
a rare and serious type of skin cancer that begins in the nail matrix
what is nail melanoma
what is leukonychia
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
what is pincer nail
area where the nail plate cells are formed
what is the matrix
hard keratin plate on top of and slowly sliding across the nail bed as it grows; the most visible and functional part of the nail
separation of the nail plate and bed, often due to injury or allergic reactions, when the cause is removed, the area slowly begins healing
what is onycholysis
irregular split or brittle nails appearing as nail plate surface roughness
what is onychorrhexis
nail surface pitting, roughness, onycholysis, and bed discoloration randomly or evenly spaced
what is nail psoriasis
living skin underneath the PNF found at the nail plates base covering the matrix area
what is the eponychium
slightly thickened layer of skin that lies between the fingertip and free edge of the nail plate , forming a protective layer that prevents microorganisms from invading and infecting the nailbed
what is the hyponychium
ingrown nail, wherein the nail grows into the sides of the tissues around the nail
what is onychocryptosis
highly curved nail plate; May be inherited or caused by a matrix injury;often leads to ingrown nails
what is pilcatured nail
bacterial inflammation of the tissues around the nail plate, causing pus, swelling, and redness; often seen in dry or chapped hands from excessive water and detergent exposure
what is paronychia
entire flap of skin covering the matrix, extending from the edge of the visible nail plate to the first joint of the finger or toe
what is the proximal nail fold
visible part of the matrix that extends from underneath the living skin
what is the lunula
nail plate fungal infection consisting of whitish patches that can be scraped off the nails surface or long whitish or pale yellowish streaks within the nail plate
irregular stretching of the eponychium or hyponychium around the nail plate;usually from serious injury or an allergic skin reaction
what is nail pterygium
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
what is pseudomonas aerusinosa