Disorders of the nails

Question 1

Parynochia

Answer 1

Acute or chronic • Inflammation and infection of the proximal and/or lateral nail
folds • Swelling, redness, tenderness • Caused by local trauma
• Nail biting/picking • Frequent immersion in water

Question 2

Leukonchia

Answer 2

White spots
• Non-uniform spots that grow out slowly as nail grows
• Caused by trauma

Question 3

Koilonchia

Answer 3

• “Spoon Nails” • Abnormally thin nails that have lost convexity • May even become concave • Associated with iron deficiency anemia and Plummer Vinson
syndrome

Question 4

Onycholysis

Answer 4

• “Spoon Nails” • Abnormally thin nails that have lost convexity • May even become concave • Associated with iron deficiency anemia and Plummer Vinson
syndrome

Question 5

Onychomycosis

Answer 5

• Fungal infection of the nail bed, plate, or matrix • Caused by occlusive footwear, water exposure (locker room),
and susceptibility

Question 6

Onychocryptosis

Answer 6

Ingrown toenail • Nail grows into dermis • Caused by improperly cutting toenails, tight shoes

Question 7

Terry’s nails

Answer 7

Nail	plate	turns	white	with	distal	band	of	reddish	brown • Causes
• Aging
• Changes	to	the	microvasculature
• Some	chronic	diseases
• Cirrhosis • Diabetes • Heart	failure

Question 8

Nail pits

Answer 8

Punctate depressions of the nail plate • Caused by • Associated with psoriasis

Question 9

Nail clubbing

Answer 9

Bulbous swelling of the soft tissue at the nail base with loss of
normal angle • Nail bed feels spongy or floating • Caused by conditions associated with hypoxia
• Congenital heart disease, lung cancer • Exact mechanism unknown, but involves vasodilation and
increased blood flow to distal portion of digits and changes in connective tissue