Clinical Diagnosis · Integumentary System · Hard
Onycholysis
Meaning: Painless separation of the nail plate from the underlying nail bed.
In practice: Seen after trauma or overzealous manicures, and in psoriasis and fungal nail infection.
Word parts
- -lysis means breaking down
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: Swollen, dilated vascular cushions of the anal canal; piles.
Answer: Haemorrhoids
Which word means: A condition with too few red blood cells or haemoglobin.
Answer: Anemia
Words like onycholysis come up in the daily game
One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.