2006-09-27 05:45:02 · 4 answers · asked by mimi 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
That's the "lunula." It's the crescent shaped whitish area of the nail bed of a fingernail or toenail.
To be specific it is located at the end of the nail that is closest to the skin of the finger but still lies under the nail. It is not actually white but only appears so when seen through the nail.
The actual size of the lunula does not correlate with disease or health. The lunula may disappear in the presence of poor nutrition with protein deficiency and with chronic diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, heart failure, diabetes, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
2006-09-27 05:51:39 · answer #1 · answered by EDtherapist 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you're referring to the lunula. This is normal and most people have them. The lunula size can differ between individuals and is not a cause for concern. The lunula may disappear with poor nutritional intake and with chronic diseases. But some healthy individuals do not have them.
2006-09-27 12:50:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're areas where your fingernail is still growing--if you press down on them (gently) with a pencil point you'll see they're more tender than the rest of your fingernail, which has toughened.
2006-09-27 12:47:48 · answer #3 · answered by lisa450 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
it's dead cells that have yet to compress
2006-09-27 12:54:32 · answer #4 · answered by littlegoober75 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋