Anatomy & DisordersQuestion 62 of 100
A client points at the whitish half-moon shape at the base of her thumbnail and asks you what it is. What is the most accurate answer?
a.It is the lunula, the part of the matrix that can be seen through the nail plate
b.It is air trapped underneath the nail plate
c.It is a vitamin deficiency showing through the nail
d.It is the hyponychium showing through from underneath
Explanation
The lunula is simply the front portion of the matrix that lies close enough to the surface to be visible, which is why it looks whiter than the rest of the nail. It is not trapped air, and it is not a health or vitamin sign; a manicurist may never explain a nail feature as a medical or nutritional condition. The hyponychium sits under the free edge at the fingertip, not at the base of the nail.
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