What is the technical term for a nail?

The technical term for a nail is "onyx," stemming from the Greek word for nail. This term encompasses the entire structure of the nail, including its composition and characteristics. The use of "onyx" in this context highlights the importance of the nail as a keratinous structure that serves both protective and aesthetic functions.

Onychosis refers to any disease or disorder affecting the nails but does not describe the nail itself. Appendage is a more general term that describes any body part that is attached to the main structure, which encompasses a wide range of body parts, not just nails. The lunula is the visible part of the nail matrix at the base of the nail and is just one component of the overall nail structure, not the term for the nail itself. Thus, "onyx" is the correct terminology that specifically identifies the nail.