: lunulae; from Latin 'little moon') is the crescent-shaped whitish area of the bed of a fingernail or toenail.

In humans, it appears by week 14[1] of gestation, and has a primary structural role in defining the free edge of the distal nail plate (the part of the nail that grows outward).

Examinations concluded that the lunula is an area of loose dermis with lesser developed collagen bundles.

The lunula's location on the newest part of the nail allows assessments to be made about one's health.

Some examples of such problems are malnourishment, anemia, kidney failure, and heart disease.