Caleb Foster
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula. Lunulae cover the bottom of your nail, just above your cuticle. They are part of your nail matrix, which refers to the tissue just beneath your nail. The lunula can provide clues about a person's health. For example, if the lunula turns red, it may be a sign of heart failure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Lunula (plural: lunulae) |
| Description | Small, white, half-moon shapes found at the base of the nail |
| Location | Part of the nail matrix, which is the tissue just beneath the nail |
| Function | Contains nerves, lymph and blood vessels |
| Health indicators | Not being able to see a lunula may be a sign of vitamin deficiency, vitiligo, kidney failure or another health condition; a red lunula may be a signal of heart failure; half-and-half nails (half-brown, half-white) may be a sign of renal disease |
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What You'll Learn
- The half-moon shape at the base of your nail is called a lunula
- Lunulae are part of your nail matrix
- Lunulae are usually hidden underneath the cuticle or skin at the base of your finger
- Lunulae turning white and half-brown may be a sign of renal disease
- Lunulae turning red may be a signal of heart failure
The half-moon shape at the base of your nail is called a lunula
Lunulae are usually visible, but sometimes they are hidden underneath the cuticle or skin at the base of your finger. Skin colour and other factors may also make the lunulae more or less visible. For example, people who experience chronic renal failure may produce more melanin, which can cause the nail bed to turn brown and the lunula to become less visible.
In some cases, changes to the lunula can be a sign of health conditions. For example, if the lunula turns red, it may be a sign of heart failure. If the lunula is small or missing, it may be a sign of vitamin deficiency, vitiligo, kidney failure or another health condition. However, this is not always the case, and small or missing lunulae are usually not a cause for concern.
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Lunulae are part of your nail matrix
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula, or lunulae in the plural. Lunulae are part of your nail matrix, which refers to the tissue just beneath your nail. The matrix contains nerves, lymph and blood vessels, and produces the cells that become the hardened nail plate.
The lunula is the visible portion of the matrix, although it may be hard to see. Skin colour and other factors can make the lunulae more or less visible. The lunula comprises the newest portion of the nail, so it can provide clues about a person's health. For example, if the lunula turns red, it may be a sign of heart failure. However, small or missing lunulae usually aren't cause for concern. They're usually just hidden underneath the cuticle or skin at the base of your finger.
In some cases, missing lunulae may be a result of trauma or a sign of vitamin deficiency, vitiligo, kidney failure or another health condition. The portion of your nail containing the lunula may turn white, sometimes creating a nail that's half-brown and half-white. This is sometimes called half-and-half nails and may be a sign of renal disease.
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Lunulae are usually hidden underneath the cuticle or skin at the base of your finger
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula. Lunulae are part of your nail matrix, which refers to the tissue just beneath your nail. They are usually hidden underneath the cuticle or skin at the base of your finger. In some cases, they may not be visible at all. This is because the lunula comprises the newest portion of the nail, and skin colour and other factors may make it more or less visible.
The lunula is the visible portion of the matrix, which contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. It produces the cells that become the hardened nail plate. Lunulae cover the bottom of your nail, just above your cuticle.
In some cases, missing lunulae may be a result of trauma or a sign of a vitamin deficiency, vitiligo, kidney failure, or another health condition. However, small or missing lunulae usually aren't a cause for concern.
The portion of your nail containing the lunula may turn white, sometimes creating a nail that's half-brown and half-white. This is sometimes called half-and-half nails and may be a sign of renal disease. If your lunula turns red, it may be a signal of heart failure.
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Lunulae turning white and half-brown may be a sign of renal disease
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula. Lunulae cover the bottom of your nail, just above your cuticle. Lunulae are part of your nail matrix, which refers to the tissue just beneath your nail. The matrix contains nerves, lymph and blood vessels, and produces the cells that become the hardened nail plate.
Lunulae are usually white, but they can sometimes turn half-brown and half-white. This is sometimes called half-and-half nails and may be a sign of renal disease. People who experience chronic renal failure may produce more melanin, which can cause the nail bed to turn brown. If your lunula turns red, it may be a signal of heart failure.
Small or missing lunulae usually aren't cause for concern. They're usually just hidden underneath the cuticle or skin at the base of your finger. In some cases, missing lunulae may be a result of trauma or a sign of vitamin deficiency, vitiligo, kidney failure or another health condition.
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Lunulae turning red may be a signal of heart failure
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula. Lunulae are part of your nail matrix, which refers to the tissue just beneath your nail. It contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels, and produces the cells that become the hardened nail plate.
If you notice any changes to your lunulae, it is important to tell your doctor. While lunulae can provide clues about a person's health, it is important to remember that genetics also plays a big role in determining the size and shape of your nail beds.
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Frequently asked questions
Half circles under nails are called lunulae (or lunula in the singular).
Half circles under nails are caused by the tissue just beneath your nail, known as the nail matrix. The matrix contains nerves, lymph and blood vessels, and produces the cells that become the hardened nail plate.
Not being able to see a half circle under your nail may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, vitiligo, kidney failure, or another health condition. However, sometimes the lunulae are simply not visible, and small or missing lunulae usually aren't cause for concern.
This is sometimes called half-and-half nails and may be a sign of renal disease.
If your half circle turns red, it may be a signal of heart failure.
