NIC Nail Technician Written ExamScientific ConceptsEasy
A nail technician observes that a client's nails have a noticeable upward curvature at the free edge, resembling a spoon. This condition is commonly known as:
- APterygium
- BKoilonychia
- COnychatrophia
- DOnychocryptosis
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Koilonychia
Koilonychia, also known as spoon nails, is a condition characterized by abnormally thin nails that have a raised ridge and are concave centrally. This often indicates an underlying medical condition.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Pterygium refers to the forward growth of the cuticle onto the nail plate or fusion of the nail fold to the nail plate.
- C. Onychatrophia is the wasting away of the nail plate, causing it to lose its luster and become smaller.
- D. Onychocryptosis is an ingrown nail, where the nail grows into the flesh.
Koilonychia
A nail condition where the nails are thin, soft, and concave, resembling a spoon.
- Also known as 'spoon nails'
- Can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia or other systemic conditions
- Nail plate thins and flattens, then develops a central depression
Memory trick: Koilonychia makes your nails 'coil' inwards like a spoon.