[neilep (OP)]

Dearest Fingernail  Academics,

Charlotte (my daughty)....just asked me what the white thing is at the base of your fingernail !..and why is it white ? and why is it that shape ? and what does it do ?

I told her they are milk level indicators to indicate how much milk she has drunk !...I think I am right but thought I'd better ask ewe as well !

[neilep (OP)]

....as an addendum... I assume I must need to wash my toes cos I can't see them on my toe nails !!..why's that then ?

[Karen W.]

Re: Meaning of Fingernail Moons


Matrix.  The matrix is a highly specialized epithelial
structure that manufactures the bulk of the nail plate. It
grows and matures like other epithelial structures and
produces a highly dense and compacted stratum corneum
called the nail plate. The flat, oval shaped, matrix extends
from under the proximal nail fold to just beyond the
proximal portion of the visible part of the nail plate. A
little more than one-third of the matrix is seen through the
nail plate as the white half-moon shaped lunula. The
epithelium of the proximal nail fold and the proximal
portion of the matrix under the nail fold makes the top
portion of the nail plate. The distal matrix (lunula) makes
the bottom of the nail plate that is bonded to the nail bed,
it is a lighter color as it mixes with the matrix cells.


The lunula 

The lunula is the visible portion of the distal nail matrix that extends
beyond the proximal nailfold.
It is white, half-moon-shaped, appears by week 14 of gestation, has unique
histologic features.
The lunula has a primary structural role in defining the free edge of the
distal nail plate. Lunular anomalies include changes in form and structure
and in color. Lunular dysmorphologic features can be characterized by
macrolunula, microlunula or anolunula, and nonconvex lunula. Lunular
dyschromias can be confluent or spotted or can be characterized by
longitudinal colored bands that traverse the lunula. Alterations in the
morphologic features or color (or both) of the lunula can be an indication
of either a cutaneous or a systemic disorder.

SOURCE:  http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jun2000/959991296.An.r.html


   

[neilep (OP)]

Cripes !!......Thank Ewe karen......

[Karen W.]

YOUR WELCOME! Did I do something wrong posting it??

[neilep (OP)]

Nope..just astonished at all the info..
.welllllll...I suppose it could be trimmed ..if it's ok with you I will do it !

[paul.fr]

Cripes !!......Thank Ewe karen......

can be an indication
of either a cutaneous or a systemic disorder.

upon first reading i thought it read " can be an indication of cretinous...." and got worried

[iko]

Unfortunately there are also fingernail white lines from chemo.

   
http://www.naildoctors.com/images/3d.gif
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/images/2785derm0916-05.jpg

Muehrcke Lines of the Fingernails

Background: Muehrcke lines are paired, white, transverse lines that signify an abnormality in the vascular bed of the nail. Muehrcke first described paired, narrow, white, transverse fingernail lines in a series of 65 patients with severe, chronic hypoalbuminemia (Muehrcke, 1956). He believed that the lines were a specific sign of this single biochemical alteration. Others described patients receiving multiple cytostatic agents (Schwartz, 1979). These nail alterations may also represent an example of chemotherapy-induced nail changes.

Transverse white lines of the nails occur with many different etiologies. They have been shown to occur in association with several conditions, including pellagra (Brownson, 1915), Hodgkin disease (Shahani, 1973), renal failure (Hudson, 1966), sickle cell anemia, or nail damage from paraquat (Samman, 1969).

Transverse white bands appearing in the nail plate are often caused by trauma to the more proximal matrix in the area of the proximal nail fold; however, some bands, such as Mees lines and Muehrcke lines, are associated with systemic disease. The systemic disease–associated lines typically span the entire breadth of the nail bed or the nail plate, and they tend to be more homogenous, to have smoother borders, and to occur on several nails at once (Daniel, 1997). Trauma-induced transverse white bands tend to be more linear, they resemble the contour of the proximal nail fold, and they usually do not spread across the entire breadth of the nail plate, whereas systemic disease–associated lines typically have a contour similar to the distal lunula and a rounded distal edge. Usually, a correlation between the onset of the bands and a systemic insult exists; a history of physical trauma to the cuticle area is not likely (Daniel, 1997).


Pathophysiology: The appearance of the paired, narrow, white bands on the fingernails is typically correlated with a serum albumin level below 2.2 g per 100 mL. The lines have been shown to persist with chronic hypoalbuminemia and to disappear when the serum albumin level rises above 2.2 g per 100 mL (Muehrcke, 1956). The exact pathogenesis has not been sufficiently articulated. A localized edematous state in the nail bed may exert pressure on the underlying vasculature, thereby decreasing the normal erythema typically seen through the nail plate (Daniel, 1997).

Muehrcke observed the fingernails of 250 healthy adults, 500 patients with serum albumin levels in the reference range (values <4 g per 100 mL were taken as abnormal), 31 patients with nephrotic syndrome, and another 34 patients with hypoalbuminemia from other causes. The paired, white bands were not found in any healthy subjects or in patients with serum albumin levels of greater than 2.2 g per 100 mL. Of the 31 patients with nephrotic syndrome, 23 (74%) had paired, transverse, white bands. Of the other 34 patients with hypoalbuminemia, 9 had serum albumin levels of less than 2.3 g per 100 mL, 8 of whom developed the white bands. In 1 patient with a serum albumin level of 2.0 g per 100 mL, the bands did not develop; however, her albumin level had decreased from 2.7 g per 100 mL in the previous 2 weeks. The bands were more prominent in patients with albumin levels of less than 1.8 g per 100 mL for at least 4 months (Muehrcke, 1956).
...
much more reading clicking here:    http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic916.htm      

[neilep (OP)]

IKO is great...thank you for this fascinating information .

[moonfire]

Re: Meaning of Fingernail Moons


Matrix.  The matrix is a highly specialized epithelial
structure that manufactures the bulk of the nail plate. It
grows and matures like other epithelial structures and
produces a highly dense and compacted stratum corneum
called the nail plate. The flat, oval shaped, matrix extends
from under the proximal nail fold to just beyond the
proximal portion of the visible part of the nail plate. A
little more than one-third of the matrix is seen through the
nail plate as the white half-moon shaped lunula. The
epithelium of the proximal nail fold and the proximal
portion of the matrix under the nail fold makes the top
portion of the nail plate. The distal matrix (lunula) makes
the bottom of the nail plate that is bonded to the nail bed,
it is a lighter color as it mixes with the matrix cells.


The lunula 

The lunula is the visible portion of the distal nail matrix that extends
beyond the proximal nailfold.
It is white, half-moon-shaped, appears by week 14 of gestation, has unique
histologic features.
The lunula has a primary structural role in defining the free edge of the
distal nail plate. Lunular anomalies include changes in form and structure
and in color. Lunular dysmorphologic features can be characterized by
macrolunula, microlunula or anolunula, and nonconvex lunula. Lunular
dyschromias can be confluent or spotted or can be characterized by
longitudinal colored bands that traverse the lunula. Alterations in the
morphologic features or color (or both) of the lunula can be an indication
of either a cutaneous or a systemic disorder.

SOURCE:  http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jun2000/959991296.An.r.html


   

Now simple laymans terms please....

[BillJx]

It's the root.

[moonfire]

Thanks Bill!  Just what I wanted to know!

[DoctorBeaver]

Here's another little fingernail question.

Some of my nails are smooth on the upper surface while on others I've got lots of "ridges" running the length of the nail. These are especially pronounced on the nails of my index fingers. What causes that? And what are the white spots?

(OK, I know that's 2 questions... so sue me!  [!] )

[iko]

Here's another little fingernail question.

Some of my nails are smooth on the upper surface while on others I've got lots of "ridges" running the length of the nail. These are especially pronounced on the nails of my index fingers. What causes that? And what are the white spots?

(OK, I know that's 2 questions... so sue me!  [!] )

Hi Dr. Beaver,

I reply with 2 questions: either you are secretly checking our CME (Continuing Medical Education) progress or you don't have access to any search engine or e-medicine of sort (poor thing!)  []

ikod

http://www.sixwise.com/images/articles/2005/08/31/nail_vertical_ridging.jpg

Click here for deNails:  []

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/08/31/the_11_signals_your_nails_are_giving_you_about_your_health.htm

[neilep (OP)]

IKO.....Fantastic information about fingernails...THANK YOU very much !!

[Karen W.]

That is a beautiful picture Iko.. The color is gorgeous!

[DoctorBeaver]

IKO - I haven't a clue what CME is.  []

I searched for info about vertical ridges but all I found is similar to the link you posted - saying there's nothing to worry about. What I asked is what causes it.