Nails Tutorial
Terry’s nails
Terry’s nails describes white-colored opacification of most of the nail bed, sparing a narrow 1 to 2 mm band of normal pink to brown tissue at the distal end. It is a sign of systemic disease (eg, cirrhosis).
Lindsay’s nails
Lindsay’s nails describes white-colored opacification of half of the nail bed, with the other half being normal pink to brown tissue. Also known as “half and half nails.”
Muehrcke’s lines
Transverse white lines parallel to lunula, usually occurring in pairs. Seen in hypoalbuminemia.
Beau’s lines
Transverse depressions in nail plate resulting from temporary cessation of nail growth. Seen in trauma and extreme stress.
Mee’s lines
Transverse lines parallel to lunula. Seen in arsenic and other heavy metal poisoning as well as renal failure.
Onycholysis
Painless detachment of the nail from the nail bed.
Koilonychia
Spoon-shaped nail that could hold a drop of water. Seen in iron-deficiency anemia.
Nail pitting
Depressions in the nail resulting from defective keratinization by proximal matrix due to inflammation. Seen in psoriasis and alopecia areata.
Oil drop sign
Yellow-brown spot with red margin. Seen in psoriatic arthritis.
Capillary dilatation
Fingernail capillary bed dilatation. Seen in connective tissue diseases like systemic sclerosis.
Punctate leukonychia
One or more small areas of white discoloration on the nail. Associated with trauma.