What is the term for the white area found at the base of a fingernail or toenail?

The term for the white area found at the base of a fingernail or toenail is the lunula. The lunula is the crescent-shaped structure that is visible as a whitish area at the proximal end of the nail plate, which can vary in size and visibility from person to person. Its prominence often signifies healthy nail growth, as it is the matrix area of the nail, where new nail cells are produced. Understanding the anatomy of nails, including the lunula, is important in both medical and aesthetic fields, as it can sometimes provide indications of overall health or underlying conditions.

Other terms listed refer to different parts of the nail structure. The lateral nail fold refers to the skin folds that border the sides of the nail, while the cuticle is the layer of skin that overlaps the nail plate at its base, providing protection against infection. The free edge describes the part of the nail that extends beyond the fingertip, which is trimmed during manicures or pedicures. Each of these components plays a distinct role in nail health and anatomy, but specifically, the lunula stands out as the characteristic white area at the nail base.